One,
from four generations back,
moved his whole family here
from Germany just before the First War.
And on the other side,
another did the same.

One, from two generations ago,
worked long, hard hours among machines,
but never missed a birthday—
(not even my brother’s,)
even when he had a heart attack the day before.

Another, from two generations ago,
from the other side,
tried to save his before him
from the water rushing into the boat.
Even though neither of them came back—
he left behind two sons,
and now, many years later, one is mine.

And although I will never be one,
simply because of genetics,
I hope to carry their legacy,
for without them, I would not be here,
or even me.