From Eva Sounness: Farmgirl Marries

From Eva Sounness: Farmgirl Marries

From Eva Sounness: Farmgirl Marries

BRIGHT-EYED SUSIE DROPS BOMBSHELL.
There, at the dining room table, she lets it fall,
news of the decade, they sit in silence
a moment, her mother begins to talk—
SHOCK NEWS DOES NOT GO DOWN WELL.

PARENTS DISAPPROVE.
“Over my dead body,” says Eva as Cliff
clears his throat and removes himself from the table.
They wait for the slam of the door.
SUSIE MAKES MOVE.

GIRL RUNS CRYING FROM MOTHER.
Eva tries to make her see reason:
“It’s wrong to marry someone from a different race!”
Susie runs down the road to her brother’s place.
SOBBING SUSIE MAKES PHONECALL TO CHINESE LOVER.

“MARRIAGE CAN WAIT TWO YEARS”
says Cliff, extracting a promise
from sobbing Susie. He’ll work the miracle yet,
he’ll cure his girl of this strange malaise.
NEWS CONFIRMS PARENTS’ WORST FEARS.

SUSIE TO MARRY IN DECEMBER
Can’t keep her word. Cliff swears
he’ll not attend the wedding. Eva says,
“They’re very determined,” and picks up a pen.
CHINESE FIANCE RECEIVES NASTY LETTER.

DETERMINED COUPLE THWART MOTHER’S PLAN.
“Marriage is difficult enough,” writes Eva,
“without your interference,” thinks Susie.
“We’ll sign the papers in advance,” says Danny.
FARMGIRL MARRIES CHINAMAN.