| Mothers
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My mother's
mother was the eldest of 10 children. Across 40 years, I vividly remember
the glitter of her eyes and the softness of her cheek. |
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fairy princess
in a palace where they
mispronounce your name
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Her
mother was Lina Perrenoud, from Neuchatel in Switzerland, who married
my great-grandfather in 1883 at the age of 21 (he was 37) in an Irish
port. Their marriage certificate tells us she was a 'governess' and
he a 'naval schoolteacher'. They lived out their days farming his family's
land, in Ireland's northwest. What circumstances might have conspired
to bring them together? Much as I may yearn, some things will remain
forever beyond my grasp. |
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last month's moon—
the incandescent glow
already half forgotten
first published World Haiku Review 2007
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