All In The Genes

(amazing what you can find)

tissue thin papers so deserve soft
white cotton gloves in their delicate
handing of family affairs

old certificates in tattered envelopes
a record of births deaths and marriages
of those long since gone

found contained in an old wooden chest
with many other items of interest buried
within its musty layers

black bordered mourning cards
in memory of the forgotten departed
photographs in shades of sad sepia

there hidden in the dust great aunt winnie
her long coal-black locks unkempt
in tumbles her dark eyes glazed

a lack of a smile as was the fashion
in those Edwardian days when she posed
for the shutter camera at sixteen

less than a year later her eye lids
permanently resting as she passed in a
final blaze of Baptist glory

a chill courses through my spine
not caused so much by her premature death
or her final breath but by uncanny likeness

generations later by my side a granddaughter
whose fine familiar features strike a chord
a replica of tragic winnie

Reviews

[Neville]

if this particular reader were to suggest that while reading 'All In The Genes' he felt a shiver run up and down his spine, then he would be doing that shiver & your fine words a massive disservice .. for indeed, what he felt was a stampede .. strong enough to shake the truck in which I am presently travelling .. N :)

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Neville. Yes, while I had that shiver down my spine the temperature dropped somewhat as well. Definitely an eerie experience. Pleased you read this one.

Chris

[Red Brick Keshner]

For many a thing we look at family and realise that no DNA testing is required. A very curious thing indeed, to shared features, identical mannerisms and even the general air about them. Around our latest funeral, one of my sisters between nervous laughter and sorrowful tears repeatedly retorted at how I looked like my uncle, my late father's youngest brother. And thus over and over again, when family could be gathered, face to face or through mementos, chords are struck and strung along. Perhaps it brings us to a knowing for sure that here we belong. Thanks, Chris. This has made my day. Frederick.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Frederick what a lovely and encouraging review. Thank you my friend. I am delighted that my poem has made your day. I couldn't be happier about that. and thank you for sharing your experiences on the subject of genes.

Chris

[Carola]

hi chris,
yes i'm our family's historian so I can relate to your poem.
have built family trees online, & gone down the DNA path with both my parents tested. as well. fascinating & frustrating simultaneously.
cheerio carola

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Carola, thank you for your visit and pleased to hear you can relate. Yes fascinating subject to look into. Can bring surprises and frustrations. All best wishes.

Chris

[keith]

knowing one's past is familiar territory as most want to know where we are from
we often search not finding information that answers our questions
but when we find details that strike a chord within, we embrace it all in quiet manner and cherish the knowledge of such
you are most fortunate to have records of your lineage, cherish them, share them, keep the safe

another write that strikes a chord deep within my own
i might need to stop reading your thoughts, they make me feel too damn good! HA! thanx

[Chris Shaw]

Hi Keith and thanks for the smile. You know it's perfectly OK to feel damn good :)) Yes, I am thankful for the bits I have discovered and I will cherish them and pass them further down the line. Pleased to see you which means you are taking a little break from your very busy schedule. All good wishes from across the pond.

Chris

[Patricia Wedel]

dearest Chris… Echoes of past Voices… and features in Genes that capture a likeness is a Blessing. Smiles and dimples and blue green Eyes painted in the Leaves against a Blue Sky. Your poetry is a stained glass window of Memories. tenderly, Pat

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Pat, I love that you think my poetry is a stained glass window. Yes, echoes and voices from the past and I am thankful to hear them. Hope you and Roger are in good spirits. Sending love across the waves.

Chris

[Patricia Wedel]

dearest Chris… Roger and myself have Old Glory in stripes and stars Lifted proudly.. blowing in the gentle breeze… as we Celebrate July Fourth… “and our Flag was still there”. gently, Pat

[Chris Shaw]

I wish you both a very happy 4th July dear Pat. Will be thinking of all my friends who live in the USA on that day, especially. May your flag flutter gently in a light summer breeze.

[Patricia Wedel]

You are so Benevolent… to understand we Still Love our Mother Country and the beautiful Poets and People we know. Love 💗 Across the Waves… tenderly, Pat

[Chris Shaw]

🌹🌹🌹.........

[Patricia Wedel]

🌈🎼🎻🛳🎉…………

[LJ]

A wonderful progression of images brings us a shattering, mattering conclusion. The delve into the box, with items 'tissue thin' and 'interesting', are only a prelude to Aunt Winnie. Then on to a granddaughter, where a chord is struck not only for the poet but also for her readers. Clever, telling and caring, this poem is a favorite now. It is viable, active and wondrous regarding not only the photo found, but also the poem as pictured. Dark curls and a solemn face are seen here twice and doubly noticed. Thank you.
LJ

[Chris Shaw]

Dear LJ. Thank you for your wonderful review. So pleased to hear this write is now a favourite of yours. Your visit is most welcome.

Chris

[Ranger Kessel]

You have a wonderful way if using imagery in your poetry. I could see the photo. In my head. I enjoyed this Chris

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Ranger. I do try and work on the imagery to form pictures.

Chris

[Lisasview]

Oh, I got chills reading about dear Winnie...
My aunt in Brighton (who was a twin) was named Winnie....so of course when I read your poem I thought of her.
Although I never met her she came up in conversation when we spoke of our relatives (my mothers side)that lived in England.
Also, your words about faded papers, etc. are wonderful and haunting. I often wonder what will happen to all my journals, diaries, photos, books I read as a child and the few books my mother read as a child... when I am gone... People probably will not care... Going through photos of my family and my husbands there are so many with no names on the back..Faded memories...
I am a keeper of things like that...but I wonder...my sister, one year younger than me keeps nothing...
Lisa, early in Spain

[Chris Shaw]

Good morning Lisa, so we both share having an aunt Winnie and neither of us had the opportunity to meet them. Interesting what you say about your journals, I too w wonder what will become of my poetry notebooks in the future. They probably won't be of any interest, yet represent hours and hours of work :) strange how some of us collect everything and some nothing. Hope all is well with you and that Friday brings all you wish for.

Chris

[Lisasview]

Yes, it is interesting... I kept all the letters that my father sent me from all over the world...a while back and before he died, I put them into large folders ...in order and, each in its own plastic cover... I left every other plastic page empty because i knew he had kept my letters..
Anyway, I ended up with a large book for the 60's, 70's 80's and 90's and so on (the largest amount were from the 90's...
He died at the age of 96... still writing...still clear headed.
Now I need to place my letters in between his... a big job... but then I wonder ...who will even care...
When I spoke to my husband about your poem and my thoughts he said that all "stuff" is for me....Ah well,
I am little by little reading and throwing away my diaries from the 70's...gosh, but what about all the photos????
All of this seemed so so important when I was in my 30's..
And, yes, what about my poems... I think I might just self publish so at least they are in a book...rather than on paper or on the Writerscafe...
So much to consider...
Lisa

[Chris Shaw]

You know it is just"stuff" your husband is right, but it is so hard to part with things which have a strong sentimental pull. I totally understand why you want to keep your Dad's letters. I wish I had letters from my Dad. The self publishing of poems is a good idea. When I am less busy, I will contemplate that too. At the moment it is difficult to even fit my poetry in. Have a good day Lisa.

[Lisasview]

Same here... Have no idea how old you are Chris..but I am half way to 75... I can not believe it!!read moreSame here... Have no idea how old you are Chris..but I am half way to 75... I can not believe it!!

[Relic]

I can relate to this too, Chris. I've got the trunk, the birth and death certificates, the old photos. I have no granchildren or even children, but I see it in others families. Almost like ghosts of the past in different forms.

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Tim, lovely to get a visit from you. Hope all is well. Pleased you can relate to this poem and yes I guess it is like ghosts from the past. When I saw the photograph of Winnie, it was certainly an eerie feeling. All good wishes to you.

Chris

[Aura]

It is so cool how genes and genetics work, tracing back your lineage reveals untold and unforgotten stories. I've never tried it, but there are websites that offer this service. Thanks for sharing!

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Aura. Liking your new avatar by the way. The whole area is fascinating when you start to delve into the past. You aren't always going to find happy though, the past had its own share of poverty, hardship and tragedy. I appreciate your visit.

Chris

[Aura]

My pleasure. Yes I agree, history is an untold story that has many happy and unhappy moments that are just waiting to be found. I'm glad you like my avatar, I took a bunch of pictures from the internet and arranged them on a document to look like that!

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Beautiful Chris
I haven’t gone down the ancestry past but my sis in law in Nz has years back and for some reason never gave me any info
I gave up asking
I loved your poem and the feelings and descriptions well done

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Julie for your encouragement. How strange that your sister in law wasn't prepared to share info with you. I appreciate your response for sure.

Chris