'A Complete History of Me' by Nan Wigington

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One smelled of Russia. One smelled of tobacco. Two kissed in Kansas. One had two boys, five girls. One lost his job, came home drunk. Two fought. All the way through The Great Depression. One boy became a preacher, one a soldier. Two held their wives – one in his arms, one over the Missouri. Three girls became maids. Two quit, married. One was raped, never married. And five nieces, four nephews later, I find out that it is her I'm named after. 

Comments

  1. Anonymous25 June 2016 at 14:29

    What a summary! Great compression of family identity. Wish I'd written it! Love your writing, Nan!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gay Degani25 June 2016 at 17:40

    Gorgeous piece!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hillary25 June 2016 at 19:20

    Nan! Loved this piece! You are brilliant!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hillary25 June 2016 at 19:21

    Nan! Loved this piece! You are brilliant!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Linda27 June 2016 at 18:12

    I. Love. This. It's a tiny story poem with a punch at the end. The repetition is wonderful. And I LOVE those first 3 lines! I agree with Anne - this is something I wish I'd written.

    ReplyDelete

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