By Harem
Date: 12 March 2001
DESTINY
Destiny
Opening his eyes, finding himself on the kitchen floor.
Lying in a pool of blood.
His own.
Face cut, eyes blackened, lips swollen.
Another beating from step dad.
This time it would be the last .
His mother never interfered nor tried to stop him.
Little aching heart within his eight year old body had enough.
Picking himself up, he gathered a few belongings and left.
Never to return to Sweden again.
Vowing to himself, NEVER.
And he never did.
Stowing away in a ship anchored at Malmo
With trembling he hid, until far out at sea.
Could things be worse than at home.
NEVER.
Sailing the seven seas, adventure and danger abound.
Mutiny, pirates and knife wounds.
Stories later shared with his grandchildren
Almost too painful to relate
After years of salt and foam and tempest
Coming to America to plant his roots and find his love
The vessel of immigration carried him to his destiny
She was a little woman, only 4' 6'.
Her long honey brown hair, tightly curled in a bun
Dark creamy complexion belied her Swedish descent.
Stern steamy light blue eyes.
Buxom woman with strength to mend his heart.
They soon discovered their parallel past
And their fated destiny, together.
She too had been abused in Sweden.
And thrown away by her family
Forced to leave because of her disgrace
He saw the sadness on her face.
Her mother died giving birth to her
Raised by a stern father and seven brothers
Never having the tender breast touch her
Yearning for motherly affection
Sent out to clean homes of the rich
Taken and violated by her employer
Pregnant and disgraced so young
Shaming the family name.
Birthing a baby, torn from her
Given away to a far away aunt
Crying in shame
Forced to leave for the promised land
Far far away, to hide the shame.
Two brothers escorted her across the sea
To the land of the brave and the free
Discarding her like a broken vessel
Frightened little girl
Unable to speak or understand the words
A culture foreign and foreboding
And so they each met their destiny.
On a vessel for the new world.
Sweden behind them.
Opportunity and blessings await.
He proposed on the ship before docking
They married on land with joyful celebration
Producing many children out of their love
Their destiny.......
...................
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