I was fortunate to be gifted my great grandmother’s house this month. It was built in 1847. The two-story house stands a bit arthritic but strong and proud. The connection to three generations before me is powerful. While life was not easy in slower, simpler times, it was rich in time together, time at home, and time outside. Instead of spending our days clicking on keyboards we used our hands to literally make a living, a lean living. What can we learn from our ancestors?
Day 29 of National/Global Poetry writing month (AKA NaPoWriMo). “Ancestors” card from “Witches Wisdom” pack by Barbara Meiklejohn-Free and Flavia Kate Peters, artist Richard Crookes.
Ancestors
Feel the know-how in your bones
in your blood
that ancestral memory
of living close to the earth
of living slow and simply
with the seasons.
A horse-drawn one bottom plow
Felling trees for the long winter’s fire
Sauerkraut fermenting in a glazed crock
Apple pie cooling on the windowsill
Mending basket near the rocking chair
where babies are soothed
and Christmas mittens knitted.
Make due
Need less
Fashion with our hands
Fashion with our hearts
Learning from ancestors
the old ways
of dependence on self
and time with family.
CreatetheDawn 