Harbouring The Bones of History

Discovering more about family. Great Aunt Winnie died at 17, had led a sheltered and innocent life and yet ...

I meet her, eye to eye

for the first time.

Pallid, pure and coy at seventeen,

like a small bird with a broken wing

singing a sad song.

I've found Winnie.

Framed in black bleakness,

her Edwardian portrait,

delicate in monochrome,

features of fine fragility.

Suitcase hidden,

brown leather, grazed with the years,

belt secured, brass buckled history,

reeking of ancestral dust.

I know her fate,

an ending of sorrow.

Her tomorrows numbered,

encumbered by consumption.

In a bundle ribbon tied, 

letters from a bible thumping Minister.

Pious unforgiving,

summoned to save her teenage soul,

to make her whole

in the months before her demise.

Tears for the fears she must have endured.

Page after page of visits and prayers,

believing herself a sinner,

not winning favour with her Lord.

And yet on that final day,

it is said, she sat up in bed,

raised her arms above her head

and died reaching out to Heaven.

Reviews

[John the Baptist]

Made me think of one of my own paternal aunts who died young of TB (I wonder how many younger readers know consumption was the old name for it.) in a local asylum in the 1930's. The vivid picture you have painted makes us almost able to see Winnie. Yes, and the "comfort" of those old time guilt mongering preachers surely could not have made her final struggle any easier, despite the upbeat quality of the last verse. A really moving piece here.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much. When I read the letters about what that child had to endure, her fully knowing she was dying, it made me feel physically ill. Those were the hell fire and brimstone days. Pleased you could relate these lines to one of your own.

Chris

[Jade]

Wow! This took me in, Sad really but also inspiring at the end. Awesome

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Brandie Jade, a true account as well, as outlined in documents in our possession.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

You are a wonderful story teller dear Chris. Reaching for heaven Aunt Winnie. Faith make even dying less painful. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry. I did enjoy this one.
Coyote

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Coyote. So pleased you enjoyed this one. I didn't find it easy to write knowing the circumstances of her death.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome dear Chris.