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Open Poetry #15
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Reunion of Remembrance
| Open Poetry #15 |
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Reunion of Remembrance |
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Lone Wolf Member Ascendant
since 2000-03-16
Posts 5842Lansing, MI USA |
I sit quietly among my dad’s family Listening to the stories of days past Tales of my grandfather and his siblings Surround and bathe me in remembrance After soaking it all in for a while I talk to a second cousin of mine He has now lived 83 years time Having seen much come and disappear I am captivated by the thread he weaves Which tells me more than I had ever known About my grandfather who died all those years Before I was even a thought in my parents mind From what I have heard he was a good man Who loved his family more than life itself This doesn’t surprise me since that is my father’s legacy Giving his children all he never had as a child Dad is loyal to his family to a fault at times I never understood why until a few years ago I learned about a cousin I never knew about He was given up by my aunt as an infant She was only a teenager and in those days Getting pregnant before you married was bad My grandmother would not help her with him So she did what she thought was best . . . adoption He found her a few years before she died They reunited and talked about the past It’s always strikes me how things Seem to come around full circle at times My dad sacrificed his education To get a job to help support the family During the great depression I admire him for his sense of responsibility He worked long hours in a thankless job To give me a chance at a life he never had I can never repay all he has done for me He continues to teach me about life to this day I know I was blessed to have a good childhood Full of wonderful memories with my parents They always encouraged me in anything I decided I wanted to pursue along the way There were countless concerts, competitions, Plays, tennis matches, and banquets They attended all willingly cheering me on Rain or shine, smiling proudly at me I knew then I was fortunate to have them For there were many other children Whose parents were unable to attend Or just plain didn’t care about the activities I remember way back in elementary school Father daughter crafts or dances Mother daughter events for this or that No matter what, they always made time for me I grew up feeling loved and wanted In spite of what my siblings said They were much older and loved to tease As the baby of the family I was their target That would probably be the main reason To this day, we are not very close to each other Years of teasing and torment tend to cause A bit of resentment to build up in a young mind Oh, they are my brother and sister And yes, I do love them regardless But in my eyes they were strangers In many ways throughout the years They had already married when I was born Moving on with their own lives Starting families of their own While I grew up in their shadow Throughout school teachers who had them Would be amazed at how different we were Then again, my parents always encouraged me To be an individual and pursue my own interests I spent much of my life being called by my sister’s name I really hated that because I was me not her My grandmother would call me a string of names Before she would finally get it right I guess that was a casualty of having been born After so many others already had She never could keep us all straight as far as names A problem common to many families I’m sure My mother was my best friend in life She stood by me lending support Encouraging me to reach my full potential I miss her much since she died nine years ago Life without her is just not the same Although her death did serve to bring My father and I even closer together He is my rock and without him I’d be lost It’s funny how reunions will bring memories Flooding back into your mind and heart Just waiting to be shared with another Who someday will bear your name Children are our legacy in life Taking our triumphs as well as sorrows Into the future where one day they will capture Generations who will carry their knowledge on All writing comes by the grace of God. -Ralph Waldo Emerson [This message has been edited by Lone Wolf (edited 08-06-2001).] |
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| © Copyright 2001 Jennifer L. Garcia - All Rights Reserved | |||
Sven
since 1999-11-23
Posts 14937East Lansing, MI USA |
I really like this LW. . . a story well told, and now, a story that will continue to be told. . . great job. . .  ---------------------------------------------------------------- To the world, you may only be one person. But to one person, you may be the world. |
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walker Member Elite
since 2001-02-11
Posts 2240Florida |
LW- Parents raise children differently because they(parents) also change as life goes on. Love this poem. |
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Irish Rose Member Patricius
since 2000-04-06
Posts 10263 |
How wonderful and yes, YOU are you and stand out in the crowd....this is a great remembrance of the time you shared with your family. " I walked beside the evening sea And dreamed a dream that could not be" George William Curtis" |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Lone Wolf, I have experienced similar meetings. Good job |
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Lone Wolf Member Ascendant
since 2000-03-16
Posts 5842Lansing, MI USA |
Sven: Thank you, and yes it shall be told again. walker: Very true, very true. It's too bad my siblings never seemed to realize that. Kathleen: I'm just me, sweetheart. It was a great time and I always cherish it. Seymour: Wonderful memories for all. Thank you! All writing comes |
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