DEAR ANCESTOR:

NEGLECTED AND ALONE

THE NAME AND DATE HAVE WORN OFF

THE WEATHERED MARBLE STONE

IT REACHES OUT TO ALL WHO CARE.

IT'S NOW TOO LATE TO MOURN

YOU DID NOT KNOW THAT I'D EXIST

YOU DIED....AND I WAS BORN

YET EACH OF US ARE CELLS OF YOU

IN FLESH, IN BLOOD, IN BONE.

OUR HEARTS CONTRACT AND BEAT A PULSE

ENTIRELY NOT OUR OWN

DEAR ANCESTOR, THE PLACE YOU FILLED

SOME HUNDRED YEARS AGO

SPREADS OUT AMONG THE ONES YOU LEFT

WHO WOULD HAVE LOVED YOU SO

I WONDER HOW YOU LIVED AND LOVED.

I WONDER IF YOU KNEW

THAT SOMEDAY I WOULD FIND THIS PLACE

AND COME TO VISIT YOU