Family History

I wish
My elders were better
At telling stories
Where did they come from
What did they call their mamma’s
Ideas shared
Passions
Earliest cares
Dreams and wishes
Love lost
Open kisses

I wish
We did not move around so much
And every home still had a treasure
Under the bed
On top of dusty cupboards
A stash of favourite family pictures
Windblown at the beach
Stiff upper lip at family weddings
Big feet accidentally snapped
An obscure cousin visiting
Some with no names and dates
Almost lost
Amongst the kitchen plates

I wish
I wish
I wish
Instead I chase the stories where they can be found
A cousin here
An uncle there
A father reluctantly gives me his share
Slowly it comes together bit by bit
At least for now
In my head
It will never be complete
In time with some responsibility
We might have it captured
Family tales of pain and laughter
More than nostalgia is what I’m after
Greater insights we might glean
If only the elders were more forthcoming
Than in my dreams

By Simone Beatrice Naik Noemdoe, 2012-01-18