FAMILY TIES. Poetry from the Hearts of Donnelly AUGUST 24, 2016 DONNELLY COMMUNICATIONS INC. EDITED BY DANNA JAE NORDIN

Transcription

1 FAMILY TIES Poetry from the Hearts of Donnelly AUGUST 24, 2016 DONNELLY COMMUNICATIONS INC. EDITED BY DANNA JAE NORDIN

2 1 100 Years Old - My Father Sitting, smiling, no worries His eyes looked up at me like a child waiting for a treat He smiled and locked in on what was important reminding us he had a roof over his head and a bed to sleep in All the time looking at him wanting him to remember me He does! He asked are you my daughter? I replied yes The moment was gone and he smiled and a new greeting begins He showed me how his hair was growing and the new hat on his head with the red feather My sister reminded him he had a new tie also with stripes and it becomes his new focus He looked around at the three of us enjoying our attention He smiled, shook his head with that familiar laugh and throwing his head back His eyes go blank while searching again for something to say You know, he repeats, I own houses and I sold some of my other houses I reminded him where the houses were located He looked puzzled and asked "how do you know?" He smiled in agreement proud of his achievements in owning homes He repeats my name again in recognition He seems to know memories are missing and gives up for a moment He connects again and looked up and smiled I stood there watching him, calling his name, touching his hair and he holding my hand It was a touch I needed so long ago, a touch to say we are connected I no longer grieve for the things I thought he should or should not have done I appreciate the little flashes of pleasant memories of me Therefore, I shall do the same for him, nothing but pleasant memories He is my father and he provided a roof over our heads and a bed to sleep in These were the reasons for him going to work everyday Being our father Toni Brown

3 2 Grandpa, Mommy never talked about how grandpa loved his thirteen children she talked of how they never went hungry and grandma never worked in any white woman's house. Mommy never talked about the clothes she did not have She talked about how determined grandpa was to fulfill his dream of his children going to college. She never complained about how hard grandpa worked them farming, cleaning and learning She thanked grandpa for teaching the love of land and work. She never talked about the Jim Crow South She talked about how grandpa always had something going on and filling their world with wonder. No, the word love was never mentioned She just talked about how grandpa did raising thirteen children and he did the same for me. Toni Brown

4 3 Family You can't pick them They re chosen for you A cast of characters with a love so bright The stars envy you at night From Grandma's cooking to Grandpa's pipe Mommy's wise words Dad's shotgun to his right Built in friendship with cousins Auntie's favorite recipes and summer sleepovers Uncle's barbecue and history lessons Bonds created overnight with sisters Big brother s advice and knuckle fights will prepare you for life Growing pains, wacky photos, and petty arguments are a part of the package From birthday cake, graduations, and family milestones Family is your back bone Give hugs frequently Kiss away your sorrows Call often Create memories Family is forever As it should be... M.C. Walker (aka Minolta White)

5 4 The Village My shaky ground My rock My dismay My overwhelming joy My past, present, and future My secret and common knowledge My light house that guides me home My rope that pulls me up My arms that hold me close My love me just because My agree to disagree My love My Family Marjorie Dunn Birth of Your Truth Rise my sister, rise Rise to a renewal of you. Rise to the universe celebrating today, as it did on the day you were born. The day the universe and all of heaven celebrated a Being, beautiful, strong, and powerful in her own rights. A Being, caring, loving, and creative. Rise to the celebration that shook earth, vibrated the heavens, and the angels rejoiced! So rise my sister, rise, rise. Rise and join me in thanksgiving for your life and the renewing of your soul, as you embark the next level--- The birth of your truth. Marjorie Dunn

6 5 My Joi My Princess, My Brittini, My Joi, My one and only little girl Do you know how much you mean to me? I watch closely, as you grow into the woman you are meant to be You once came from within me, from just beneath my heart It's there you'll always be, because it s there you made your start You're growing and maturing so fast it keeps me with teary eyes I constantly ask myself, Where has my little girl gone? I know sometimes I smother you and go overboard with protecting you from this ole world and all the evils in it But one day you will see, it's all because of my unconditional, undying love for you and your life! You'll always be my source of pride, no matter where you go, what you do or become. REMEMBER, YOU must stand up tall and proud, YOU must represent yourself and your family at all times and within you feel NO FEAR for your life matters All of your dreams and goals sit before you With God's love in your heart, you hold the world in your hands You will always be my winner, and I will be your favorite cheerleader I pray that the Most High blesses me with plenty of life to witness your journey I Love You My Princess, My Brittini, My Joi Monique McNeill

7 6 Ol Roots O I see them so vividly Beautiful and strong, and such a BIG part of me So, so deep they run them ol roots Whenever I lose my way, just a thought of them lines me right up like Pastor Morgan on Sunday in his big meeting suit Mother, father, uncle, aunt, sister, brother, all the great grands, and cousins, yes, cousins galore The irrefutable link is sometimes in the gait, the smile, the laugh, the frown, the wits, the style, and the great looks, need I say more Them ol roots run deep in that black soil From all the way back over the Great Atlantic, through the Middle Passage and throughout the Diaspora Yes, they run deeply and vastly into dimensions that are immeasurable, and so beautiful that it can t be justly captured by a camera Rain, yes, the rain. So very thankful for it because it is essential for growth, and strengthening to them ol roots And the sweet blessed Sun that comes to sustain life and help spawn new life to that ol tree bearing sweet fruits O them ol roots I see clearly So beautiful and strong, and such a BIG part of me Stewart Jerome Watkins

8 7 What is a Son? (A mother s testimony) Wonderful, cuddly and beautiful is my baby boy Heaven sent from a place where angels roam, bringing us so much joy Angelic eyes that pierce my motherly soul Trinkets so bright as they glow in a world so dark and cold Ideas of great proportions as they lie dormant just waiting to be unveiled Strength of mind and body growing at a steady pace, soon he ll have his story to tell Aiming at the dreams and goals that are deeply imbedded in the heart and mind Seeking knowledge in a motley of ways, eager to uncover lost treasures that many before could not find Oh! Thank you lord for my dear son Nearer to thee, I fervently desire us to be; just hold him and guide him for his tender life has just begun Stewart Jerome Watkins

9 8 Lucy Says Grace Her name means "light" and she seeks it without fear of the unknown. She speaks of God as if a person, someone near, a mortal man duly placed to mend the earth. Lucy attends a church fair with her Mormon friends and debates the devil with the Catholic boy next door. When I explain that Jews do not celebrate Easter, she argues her belief in Jesus if it means she can color eggs. My neighbors tell me in confidence that during Lucy's last dinner visit she announced, "I am Jewish, but I can still say grace." Danna Jae Nordin

10 9 Socks She won't wear socks, kicking off booties while riding in her car seat, leaving lacy socks in sandboxes, Barney shoes at pre-school, small and smelly feet hot and dirty stuffed naked into tennies down-the-block bus stops chased at school around grassy fields, growing up rough, then polished, multi-colored toenails dance on balance beams take Girl Scout hikes scooter rides, I bandage barefoot blisters with ointment and mother's breath to blow it dry. Now she asks for high heels, not the plastic kind for dress up, but real ones -- See, Mommy, yours almost fit me! She wants to try a new balance that I'm not ready for, still saving her first party shoes, size one, white perfect seashells in my palm, still missing sticky baby feet and the useless struggle to put on socks before she walks away. Danna Jae Nordin

11 10 Families Come First No other success can compensate for failure in the home. --David O. McKay Community Values. As One family. Bettering Community. Grow spiritually and intellectually. Work values. Work life balance VS family. Working in a team. Prioritize and achieve continually. Social values. Social structure/family. Volunteering time. Honest, respectful & courteous accordantly. Moral Values. Group & individual & family. From home to Neighbors. Add value to the world, be patient & trustworthy. Recreational Values. Closeness in the family. Kids & kin. Create memories & improve social skills & develop empathy. Regnard Rodney Family: Mother, father, daughter, son 4 pillars with no comparison We live love and laugh together Family affection's elasticity greater than ether God had created the perfect unit Would there ever be a stronger knit? Regnard Rodney

12 11 We are Family! Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks. --Plutarch We may not be next kith and kin We may not be from the same origin We may not be from the same dynasty We may not be from the same ancestry We may not be offspring We may not be sibling We may not be from the same genealogy We may not be from the same posterity We may not have it all together but together we have it all We are the Donnelly and MK Family! Regnard Rodney