Geneology

I am fascinated by those who spend a significant portion of their lives figuring out which important person they are related to.  I am reminded that Jesus did not have any children.  This somehow allows each of us to claim him, or at least allows us to be adopted into His family.  It is an interesting thing in this world of who is related to whom that none of us can trace our lineage back to Jesus... except by adoption.  His of us, and us of Him.  Both ways.

She did a health genogram this year,

Much like the one I did two years ago

For school

But without the zig zaggy lines

Which showed

Where the trauma was.

I trace the lines

Up and down and zig-zaggy,

Even doing some background checks

Of the family tree.

I am eligible to be a Daughter of the American Revolution,

A Colonial Dame.

Years ago my blood tested possibly positive

For Jewish ancestry.

I understand the fascination

Of those who spend years

To search records,

Trace straight and zig-zaggy lines

To find out

Who they are.

Today  I search.

I find it fascinating to see the wealth of people

Who walked before me.

For most there is barely any record

At all.

Like my daughter I say

I don*t look like any of you

But

From time to time I see a picture

and there is

A familiar chin.

I see a bird and know immediately

What it is

How it flies

What it eats

The notes of its song

Up and down the scale.

I remember my great grandfather whose life*s work

Was annotating all the birds

Of Minnesota.