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

[Temperance]

This is lovely, Chris. Such memories to stumble upon. Yes, those likenesses must be due to the genes...what else? You have such a smooth way of telling your stories. The reader is enraptured with your words and, there's a comfort feeling to them. Very nicely done my friend. Temp

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Temp for your very encouraging review. I appreciate you. Have a good Tuesday.

read moreThank you Temp for your very encouraging review. I appreciate you. Have a good Tuesday.

Chris

[Temperance]

You’re welcome and thank you. T

[Dave]

Chris - it must be uncanny to go back in time and find that there are people today that so much resemble those that have been long gone.
Sorry I've been away for a while. I hope to be more active once again.
Take care - Dave

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Dave, thank you for stopping by to review this piece. Yes that old chest has revealed quite a bit re family history. Pleased to see you. Sounds though you have been very busy.

Chris

[Dave]

Yes, I have been busy. I finally finished writing "The Reunion" and I'm heavy into "The Tavern on the Boardwalk."
I'm going to try to split my time between doing those things and being here
Take care - Dave

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Theere are more teaits that we inherit then we can con't.
Your poem is a detailed and fascinating look at it.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Dale. Pleased you stopped by tobrevuew this piece. All the best.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

It's in the genes... for sure... the similarities in families is sometimes so prominent. And, by feeling and viewing Aunt Winnie's old treasures, you see likenesses in you granddaughter.
i have sifted through these treasure in our old dusty basement. It's a bit eerie, but they remind us of what was before us... and they are and should be family keepsakes, touched upon so delicately.
Lovely words Chris.
Truly
B.

[Chris Shaw]

I agree Betty, it can be a bit eerie. Like the ghosts of the past have their eyes on us. I appreciate your encouragement. Thank you dear friend.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

You're very welcome dear Chris!

[Sami Khalil]

We can indeed find a treasure- trove of valuable, sentimental things posthumously. They can reveal known and unknown things about our dearly departed ones. In your case, you found many. They can be all a source of pride especially if they have held high ranks or achieved marvelous things.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Sami. It has been so interesting to come across these treasures from the past. Has made me stop and think about those departed in the photographs. Pleased you stopped by.

Chris

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome Chris. Good to know.

[Alan S Jeeves]

I suppose researching family history can be dangerous at times Chris, sometimes we discover things we hadn't hoped for. I discovered an 'Aunt Winnie' also, in the guise of Great Aunt Juliana who died a married woman aged 29. Not quite as young as your Winnie yet, still far too young.
'Be careful what you wish for, everything has its price!'
My own family go back a long way in England, my forefathers came over from France in 1066 to fight with William the Conqueror. After the battle they settled here and became the poorest of poor peasants. It has been downhill for us ever since.
I guess that many will be able to relate to 'All in the Genes' as it has become a most popular research subject for old and young alike.
Well done,
Kind regards Alan
p.s. (They called me Alan as it is easy to spell)

[Chris Shaw]

Good morning Alan. Yes researching can reveal happy and sad. For some it can reveal shocking. I was delighted to find I am related to Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, the first female GP who has a London hospital named after her. Such an interesting person with suffragette links. My maiden name was Garrett and this showed up a very strong line of women on my Dad's side of the family. You have certainly managed to go back a long way with your own research Alan. Thank you so much for your response. Have a good day.

Chris

[Robert Haigh]

I can relate to this, Chris, because I began doing family research back in 2013, with very little knowledge of my ancestry. My parents, and every aunt and uncle, had passed away by then, so there was no-one to turn to for help, except an older cousin, who filled me in on a few details regarding my grandparents. I have a hinged tin box that was my father's, and it contains a few death certificates, and marriage certificates, plus the only known photograph of my paternal grandfather, who died way back in 1923. Since then I have learned a fair bit about some of my ancestors, and I have found a few of their graves. I have very few old photographs, and I do not know what any of my ancestors beyond my grandparents looked like, but my research (at Ancestry.com) has helped me form a metal picture of many of my ancestors who were previously unknown to me. I had no idea, before beginning my research, that I am part Scottish, and also part Swedish and part Irish! As you say - it is amazing what you can find!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Robert. I have been tinkering with ancestry sites myself and have found out so many interesting things. However the recent death of my mum has revealed some photographs and letters I did not know much about. It has been fascinating to say the least. I am still wading through a chest of old stuff. Winnie though was so young when she contracted TB and she touched my heart, and her last letters completely choked me up and made me cry. I thought the church was there to comfort the dying, not to harp on about sinners. The child had barely lived. She was the youngest and had four older brothers who survived until old age. I appreciate the review you have left. Have a good Monday. My husband was quite shocked when he saw the likeness with our granddaughter.

Chris.