Heredity

The family album from times ago
Has faces I never knew,
Except…for a tint-type I feel I know
From eighteen fifty-two

The mouth is like mine and eyes as well—
Our cheekbones are high--the same;
But he was reputed to pact with Hell,
And shamed our honored name.

And I shrink at the mention of sorcery—
(The Devil’s work on Earth!),
But whisperings in our family
Have shadowed me since birth.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2009

Poem

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