A poem about love and family standing in the way. |
Clarissa grew up neighbor, playmate, then classmate with Carlos, and it was just expected for love and marriage to await in the future. High school sweethearts, lust and love consumed all reasoning until the day of their graduation. Then came the decree from her parents, “There will be no marriage, for you aren’t the same – different religions, different heritages." Clarissa is sent to college way out west, while Carlos stays in state. He averages three phone calls a day to her, until “It’s best that we stop all contact. I simply must obey my parents’ wishes.” Now heartbroken, she refuses to accept his calls, and yet every day she cries for Carlos … but their love can’t be. Carlos leaves college, joins the Navy to travel the world. He never marries, and he never forgets … even nearly forty years later, her picture he still carries. In retirement, moving back to their hometown, Carlos hears Clarissa, now widowed, lives alone, her children grown, moved out of town. This welcome news excites, and new hope gives. On impulse he knocks on her front door. Clarissa opens the door, breaks out crying. It is as if they’re suddenly young once more. Their love rekindles instantly, each trying to forget the pain that they shared before. They talk, they laugh, filling in past years. “I was married to a good man … but your love caused me to shed many lonely tears. “Something was always missing, leaving a hole in my heart.” They spend all their time together for months, decide to marry as soon as she’s told her family, for they’ve always loved one another. Her son and daughter quickly come to town. They meet Carlos and hear their marriage plan. Then they tell their mother to come, sit down. “Mother, he’s not like us. You can’t marry this man.” Please check out my ten books: http://www.amazon.com/Jr.-Harry-E.-Gilleland/e/B004SVLY02/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0 |