I
was but a baby when the image was taken, my observations are based on stories
and later knowledge of my mother and her sisters. I am sure this does not stray
far from the truth. The youngest, whom I was named after, absolutely
adored Frank Sinatra!
I was just seven when my mom passed, but I
still remember the laughter, the warmth, the love that existed as family came
together, whether for a holiday, or just Sunday dinner. As a mother myself, I
hope that I have passed similar memories on to my own son, and he in turn will
do the same one day when he is a father.
 |
| The Photograph that inspired this poem |
Continuity
by Ginny Brannan
by Ginny Brannan
On entering, we are assailed by the smells:
sausage and sage, butter, brown sugar,
cinnamon …
comingling, tempting.
Then the warmth
oven on long before dawn,
steam rising from various sized pots…
not to mention body heat—
for everyone gathers here in this room.
Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole
echo from the wooden console radio
in the next room;
two sisters croon out their favorites;
a third—younger—swoons, exclaiming once again
how she “loves that
skinny Italian boy from Jersey.”
A cacophony of voices and laughter
rise and fall.
The house becomes a budding entity
breathing, beating
with the life
of those gathered here…
We carry these images from our past…
family, friends, gatherings
spinning together as one.
Defining; reminding where we come from,
who we are.
...and we pass it forward
to our children,
this gift of unconditional love
in a place we call ‘home.’
Ginny Brannan: Residing in New England with husband of nearly 32 years, son and two cats, Ginny Brannan took poetry and creative writing courses in both high school and college. Foregoing degree, she headed directly into the workforce. In 2009, Ginny found herself out of work and facing the ominous task of finding employment in a cyber world and declining job market. Struggling to keep afloat, a long-time friend suggested she tap back into her creative side and pick up a pen and write (or Macbook and type as case may be). She credits the therapeutic effects of writing to getting her through this stressful time. Ginny writes both traditional poetry and free verse. She has been published in The River Muse, an on-line Art & Literary Journal. You may read more of her poetry on her website here, listen to her recite her poems here or connect with her Ginny on twitter.
~If you are interested in seeing your poetry appear in this blog, or submitting a poem by a woman that has inspired you, please click here for submission guidelines. I greatly look forward to hearing from you!~
I could smell the cinnamon and feel the steam on my face, reminded of my own childhood holiday gatherings :D
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