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

[Stella Armour]

Ah yes, i relate to this too Chris, it is uncanny how features seem to skip a few generations then appear when you least expect to see them. Mannerisms too i have noticed...

[Chris Shaw]

You are so right Stella. Mannerisms as well as looks can be passed down the line. A really fascinating area to study. Pleased you could relate.

Chris

[Stella Armour]

A second cousin of mine in New Zealand sent me photos of his children recently and the boys are almost doubles of my son

[Chris Shaw]

It's such a weird feeling when that happens Stella. The whole area of genetics I find fascinating. Good morning and have a good day.

[Stella Armour]

well it did confirm some of my father's ancestry for me, i am a genealogist but my father's mother was a bit promiscuous so you cant always believe what is on the birth certificate lol

[Chris Shaw]

Lol. Surprising what you can find out :)

[Robert Trakofler]

Sometimes I think it is the ghost of our forebearers that make our hearts tick and urge us on that our pulse is their pulse and we are but a continuance of their breaths given in the promise of once again touching the earthly presence with the reverence that they so enjoyed each time a prayer is whispered... can we do better

[Chris Shaw]

Interesting thoughts Bunny. I find the whole area fascinating as well as a bit eerie, truth be told. Many thanks for stopping by.

Chris

[red93]

Ooh this is haunting Chris and I thought of something by Daphne du Maurier. A sombre and moving reflection indeed from you today. Really excellent.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Tony for stopping by and your encouraging review. Hope Wednesday is a good day for you. I always appreciate your support.

Chris

[lightsong]

Yes amazing and let us face it, can be scary sometimes too lol. Me, my sister and brother, all have dark hairs and light skins, though neither of our parents are like that, I ended to be with the one with the darkest hair and the whitest skin between them, some people used to thought that I dye my hair and I used to scream (It's MY NATURAL hair) lol... I think You remember it from my photos, speaking of this, funny that I also have the mole my brother have beneath his eye, and my sister's one that she have on her arm lol... maybe because I'm in the middle. Speaking of grandmother, I miss mine, she was beautiful, blond hair and blue eyes. Thank You for sharing this dear Chris 🌹, it made me smile this morning 💕

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you petal for your read and review and for sharing as well your family experiences. Pleased my lines brought a smile to your lovely face and brought you thoughts of your grandmother and siblings. I hope all is well with you. Have a good Wednesday.

Chris

[lightsong]

Yes You brought a smile to my face this morning 🥰 Thank You Beautiful Blondie 🌹

[CD Campbell]

It is a little strange to wrap your head around. My brother, my cousins, my son and daughter, and myself all have the same dark hair as my great grandmother on my mothers side. I mean, we know it's all logic and genetics and all that, but it's still crazy to witness. We are not so original from our ancestors as we think and I find that rather comforting.

I find the story that unfolds from the handling of old relics with white gloves in the first stanza to the features of your granddaughter in the last, quite fascinating. The seventh stanza with the fading of life in a final blaze of Baptist glory was my favorite if I had to pick. It humanizes the story of Aunt Winnie. She's not just some old photo. From her coal black locks to her final breath to your granddaughters likeness, it's wonderful story of humanity. This one was really striking in depth and poetically relatable to anyone with a love for family. Thumbs up!

[Chris Shaw]

I find the whole thing of family resemblance fascinating. I can understand it more between siblings and parents, but when you get a throw back five or six generations, that's when it really seems weird. By then you would think it would become well and truly diluted. Pleased you picked out the seventh stanza. I have letters written to Winnie from a bible bashing minister who had great concern for her soul in her dying days. Needless to say a letter after her death from him to family members and the church had him witness her with her arms outstretched to the Lord as she took her final breath. I found that puke making sadly. For a seventeen year old to be subjected to his visits, poor child. Your review is wonderful CD. Many thank yous.

Chris

[Dave Brown]

The looking back thingy is very interesting
My parents, parents came from Somewhere in Scotland, bringing a few artifacts with them.
My grandmother, who I barely knew (died while I was quite young) was a painter and someone in her background was also a painter
She had brought one of his pieces over
His name was J Storch
I have tried to unsuccessfully track him down
He was very accomplished and must have produced many quality pieces
Have you ever come across that name
Dumb question I know but so far I have only come to dead ends
Hope you've had just an absolutely lovely day

[Chris Shaw]

Isn't it annoying when you come to a dead end? I will try looking up the name. Now you are a painter I know, so the painting gene comes from your Grandmother. Now ain't grandmother's wonderful. I am relaxing. Pleased this read generated some thought. Have a good day Dave.

[Dave Brown]

✔️ .

[Chris Shaw]

I tried looking up the name J Storch. It is not one familiar. It is of German origin. There are some in the UK but also some in USA. Have you got a birth date for J Storch

[Dave Brown]

I have sent you a message in mail about it all
If it doesn't get to you (I am fairly dumb in this mail business) And if you are so inclined to mail me your email address, I know I can get a message to you there
If you don't want to share your email address I won't be insulted
You should be asleep!!

[W. Barrett Munn]

Truly inspired, Chris. All the choices work, from lack of capitalization to the eschewing of punctuation (which makes a closer read necessary). I found this a pleasure to read.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you my friend. Pleased you enjoyed the read. I appreciate your comments very much.

read moreThank you my friend. Pleased you enjoyed the read. I appreciate your comments very much.

Chris

[Weeping willow]

Lovely write as much of family is lost as family members leave taking a part of our history with them. Often one does not understand the importance of these things until too late. ;-}

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Weeping willow. It has been so interesting to find out more about relatives who were just names of the departed. Really appreciate your review.

Chris

[John the Baptist]

Looking through old family papers can be both interesting and sobering. A look at my grandfather's photograph shows a definite resemblance between him and myself. It can make me feel a little uneasy to realize I am now the same age as he was when he died. I don't let that really bother me, but I do put on my mask each time I leave the house.

[Chris Shaw]

Hi John.your share was interesting. We tend to live longer than those of past generations, with a few exceptions. Thanks so much for checking this one out. It truly is fascinating to come across stuff like this.

Chris

[Davidgeo]

This is exquisite. mmm, it's structured perfectly

You are a good writer.

The content is addressed in other reviews, I just wanted to say, you did very well with this in terms of simply writing. You directed your thoughts into something very well done here. That's not easy.

You put your thoughts into good form.

[Chris Shaw]

I thank you for a very positive review Dave. Pleased you enjoyed it. I did put some effort into the content.

Chris

[Davidgeo]

I still think you're a certain type of monster in disguise. No offense... all humans are monsters. You're much worse than that in a far better way.