Haiku Meets the Family Reunion - Poetry from October 25, 2009

My family hasn't made it a practice to just get together for the sake of togetherness. For my children and me, we are faced with the unfortunate reality of geography - many of my relatives live close to one another so they see each other much more regularly than we see any of the rest of them.

There have been years, at times, without contact. Life is busy. Without intention, we would never get together. I have two brothers I literally can not recall our last conversations.

In the past couple of years, our only reason for connection has been at funerals until finally we elected to change that this weekend. A small, hearty (and hardy) group collected for a reunion. This morning, I wrote a collection of haiku to accompany just a smidgeon of the photos which were taken.

This just in: because the kids and I did not attend the dinner portion of the evening - you should have seen how wet and sandy Samuel was - I was elected to organize next year's event. Makes me giggle...

Here is what I have written so far - thanks to my brother, Jim, who was also documenting the day through photos.

Back to the tide pools
Be-ribboned hair toddled here
Was it yesterday?

Last seen in tire phase

Now grace fills from sole to scalp

 -- was she ever round?

Finger tips connect

Grounded with faces apart

hear the pulses match

 

Tree root racing boys

Competitive blood flows through

Uncle and Nephew

 

Finally has love

His hand smooths her long, brown hair

Shouted wordlessness

Genetic match mates

Black and white, bottom to top

Who wrote the memo?

"I see him moving!"

Sea Lion stretches his fin -

Is that him, moving?

 

Woo hoo! He did it!

Time for us to happy dance!

Learn from your Cousin!

 
See, Listen, Notice

Engage in conversation 

Presence reported

 

Comments

[Melissa Langer]

hi julie!
it is so nice to meet you! thank you for the birthday wishes!
your blog is wondereful!

:) melissa

[Maron Craig Bielovitz]

Julie,
Enjoyed the peek at your family reunion. Isn't it true that we can live close to our sibs and not have contact each week? Your poetry will make us all rethink that situation and reach out to our brothers and sister more....
xo Maron