Telling Stories Poem by RoseAnn V. Shawiak

Echoes of past conversations flow into the present,
coming right from videos of this photographic memory,
tumbling into my mind.

Remembering the good times that went with them, hav-
ing to smile within for they were so innocent and
filled with laughter.

Seeing self doing childish things, teasing my parents,
sisters and brother, having a good time telling jokes
I made up myself.

Making everyone laugh till they cried, other times I'd
tell of my experiences with dying people where I volun-
teered when I was twelve years old.

Their tears would flow, because I would tell stories
of these people so delicately and gently, everyone
would have tears in their eyes.

This time because what I said had touched the sadness
in their hearts, seeing this innate power within me at
such a young age, amazed me.

It made me wonder and now that same innate power is
being used throughout my poetry, silently but effect-
ively, daily.