Into the Past

Who are these people?
Residing in a monochrome world?
Managing to be deeply mysterious to me
but simultaneously intimately known.

Jessie, Walter, Agnes and Edna (on knee!)

My Mum's childhood.
Her memory still vivid,
bringing to life people
whom she loved and hugged
and excitedly stepped off a train
from Glasgow to visit.
Their DNA is in me,
they are part of who I am.
Influencing my look,
My smile,
My biology.
Stories told, and told again,
of over feeding on clootie dumpling.
The walk over the old bridge
to the High St.
My teenage Grandfather
playing the organ in Fullarton Kirk,
and signing up to fight a war
far away from the sands of Irvine.
Their faces stare out
at me from the precious
tattered photographs.
My ancestors,
my family.
I am, because of others.

Jen