Who But I Can Say?

There is no one left alive today who

can say things like, you have your

mother’s eyes, your fathers forehead

and nose. That look you had just

then reminds me of your mother’s

side. The way you act sometimes,

that comes from your dad. No one,

not aunts or uncles, neither friends

nor neighbors remain today who can

compare me to my mom or dad in a

familial way. When they all were still

alive, I used to get those likenesses

a lot. Some folks measure age by a

wrinkling of skin and loss or graying of

hair, by the frequency of forgetfulness

or increased slouchiness and muscle loss.

For me, I look to the passing of genera-

tions which preceded me. And I must tell

those of you who came after—all of this

you see in me didn’t just happen by acci-

dent or randomly, you know…

Why, of course you don’t.

Chris Hanch 5-10-19