Years unfold the mystery of my ancestors
My ever-aging body reveals them
My voice mimics them
My actions reflect them
The small frame of my father
Underneath the heavy-laden weight
Of his hidden-insoluble burdens
I feel him when my face
Contorts into a cry
The eyes of my mother
Twitching, blinking
I am an exaggerated caricature
Her quiet demeanor
Introvert and shy
Yet German-willed
Thank you mom
As if I don’t have enough adversaries
As long as they have been gone
They are with me
In me
I never will forget
Maybe that’s the point
dVersepoetspub.com prompt is body image. Write a poem about a trait or physical characteristic that I inherited.
Also offering this to Glo/napowrimo.net but not the prompt they suggested. They are optional. Too tired.
I like that German will, that will keep you
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I feel him when my face
Contorts into a cry
and mother, “German-willed”
But I like how you end the poem that we won’t “forget them” is lovely.
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Yes indeed… they are there so you will remember,,, and reflect … and perhaps make them proud by what you have become. Very nicely done!
Dwight
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Those are fabulous opening lines, Mary:
‘Years unfold the mystery of my ancestors
My ever-aging body reveals them
My voice mimics them
My actions reflect them’.
I love the weight of hidden-insoluble burdens’ and the description of your mother as ‘Introvert and shy / Yet German-willed’ – a quiet strength.
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This is wonderful and your title is great too!
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Thank you!
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I love how you describe those parts of becoming more and more like them with aging…
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you wrote about the best parts of both parents and I admire that very much.
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