His loping strides matched perfectly

With the short, quick steps of hers

With quizzical glances their peers wondered

When shoulder to shoulder —

With him holding her folder —

Would become hand in hand

Their affection put up a barrier

Even close friends couldn’t penetrate

Lunch bags in hand, they stole away

They left with haste —

Footsteps fast-paced —

To where they practiced band

Unbeknownst to most, their relationship

Was not as ideal as it seemed

For if the girl’s mother found out —

Which she did, without a doubt —

The boyfriend would surely be canned

Her mother was short, but she hovered over

Like a chopper or a rain cloud

The mother “tsked” at the couple —

Oh boy, they’re in trouble —

And demanded that they disband

Her criticism did not stop the two

It only threw kindling into a flame

She wore his sweatshirts at day —

With pride, I must say —

But at night, not a trace could be scanned

As she walks by, I glance at her

Staring at this young love from afar

But the most tragic part —

Which I knew from the start —

Was that she left her friends for an island