Ancestors And Me Poem by Linda L. Franklin

My life just didn’t start when I was born
It is interwoven with those who have come before.
Many people make up who I am
Some I have met, but for a few short years
Others have been gone long before I am

From far-away lands they came to be
Looking for a better life for them and me
From all kinds of walks in life were they
But yet each has made an impact in some way

As my hair could be curly or straight
My eyes could be as dark as the night
Or as blue as the sky
My skin could be light or dark,
Or any shade in-between

My genes are what my ancestors gave to me
Whether it be shaping the country
Or shaping me
Their journey continues even in me.