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Just Wondering

  • Thread starter Thread starter harborne
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harborne

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Just Wondering

What were you like, you people long ago,
Whose blood runs through my veins?
Were you saints or sinners
Good or bad
Or just plain mad, ha ha?

I do so wish I could meet you now
To see what you looked like and find out how
You managed to survive such hard, hard times
Who you loved or hated,
Did your children look like mine?

How did you look, were you men handsome?
Were you women beautiful, or plain,
Ugly or nice, scarred from the pox,
Or you men scarred from the wars?

I know Great Gran had a cleft lip so what caused that?
Great Grandad told her she was the most beautiful woman in the world.
My Grandad threw money to children in the streets but never treated his own.
This I know but there’s so much I don’t; as I sit here on my own.

Some of you had money; some of you didn’t.
Life never changes, it’s a fact.
Were you generous or selfish; did you like a fight?
Was it a brawl in the street or a cause that was right?

How many children expired?
How many mothers died bearing them and how many husbands cried?

Did your children love you when they grew
Or just feel their hands were tied?
Did you cling to them or push them away, to lead their own lives aside?

Did you love them and laugh with them; feel their pain?
Play with them in the fields when they were young?
Did you sup with your neighbours and what did you drink,
What was the food you ate? Did you know them long?

Did you ever imagine how many people you would give rise to,
You, your children and your children’s children
Did you realise your own importance?
Did you stop to think we would look back and wish we could meet you now?

And now as I walk around our Brum
The place you all helped build
And visit St Martin’s where so many of you went
How many people around me also carry your blood
How many others are sent?

Strangers all, we are, to each other
But all from you we’re borne
I pray you all rest in peace
And maybe we’ll meet in a new dawn.




© C Zagorski 2007
 
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That was lovely Harborne all of the things I wonder especially about people walking by may be related but just don't realise it.
 
Thanks Marie. It's a fascinating subject isn't it. I'm not really very good at poetry and usually leave it to the experts, but inspiration was bountiful this morning so I thought I'd try and get it into words.
 
Thanks for that Harborne....so many unanswered questions posed in your piece. Well done.
 
Harborne that was lovely, and yes you summed it all up for me. Its funny when you ask relatives about past family I'm usually met with the response of "Lets not talk about those who have past I am more interested in the living", but then there those who want to tell you as much as they can about the family history and all its events good and bad.
 
Harborne, I have stopped replying to most of the poetry as most of it is very good or outstanding..............I stopped writing a year or to ago as my mind is taken with other things..........but I just love the way you put your poem down ......and I can relate to it very easy .........Well Done and lets see a bit more of your talent...........
 
Thanks all of you. I'll have to try another one. I didn't really know how I fared with poetry as I've never done it seriously before, but after your encouragement I will try again.
 
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