The Men’s Perspective
Today’s the day I get a wife!
I need a woman to tend to the chores.
To raise the children.
To never complain when doing these labors.
She may be scared.
But don’t worry! She will learn to love her new life!
Ah! There’s one now!
Young in the flesh, her doll face untouched.
I’ll pay you three cows, “good” sir, but alas, no more.
I can sense your daughter is a burden to you, it’s hard to ignore.
So I’ll take her off your hands, and make her perform one HELL of a show.
The Woman/Girl’s Perspective
Can I go out to play?
Can I go to school?
I don’t ask for anything, but for you to listen to me, you old fool.
But of course, I would never say that to your face.
For I would have a great price to pay.
Father . . . who is this man?
Who walks in our hose like he owns the place?
What are you two talking about?
I can’t read you.
You’re so far away,
Your expression blank on your face.
Father . . . He’s taking me away.
Father, why are you standing there!?
Father, Mother, please!
Did I offend you in some way?!
If so, I am already sorry!
Please! I’ll make things right!
I’ll do my chores without delay!
I’ll stand in silence, so you needn’t look at me and worry!
Have I not kept my tongue at bay?!
Have I not gone to church to pray?!
Father! Mother! Please!
Don’t let them take me away!
* * * *
I no longer can play.
School . . . it is but a long-ago dream.
All along . . . I was the fool.
My song has been silenced.
* * *
I have to go now.
I end this poem.
As I am not allowed too much to say.
Full Citation for this Article: Cassler, Hope Rose (2024) "Poem: “Child Marriage”," SquareTwo, Vol. 17 No. 3 (Fall 2024), http://squaretwo.org/Sq2ArticleCasslerMarriagePoem.html, accessed <give access date>.
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