Features/Reviews

Legacy

Written by Michael Holland

As a boy, I used to watch my Aunt Moira
apply cream blush to the apples of her cheeks,
warming the brush, pressing it in, curious
at the ritual as she applied powder afterward,
slipping cinnamon gloss onto her lips
as she prepared for ungrateful guests
at our family’s reunion. The ritual prepared
her to smile widely and mentally, to look
ready as she crumbled,  just slightly under
mossy pressure, the weight of arguing
third cousins, the insolent criticism
of people she barely knew odious.

“When will the burgers be ready?”
“Who’s going to organize the picnic tables?”
And once again,
“When will the burgers be ready?”

“You’re stronger than you know!”
I would say admiringly, unsure of precisely
what I meant, but meaning it wholeheartedly.

My admiration multiplied as I watched Moira
do it all: make potato salad, bake a lemon
chess pie, preparing her famous marinated
eggplant, flipping those perfect burgers
on that late, hot, sticky August afternoon, causing
me to reflect on all the burger makers
that came before her: Grandma Ruth,
Aunt Allie-Beth, and Grandpa Houston. I’d
yell – “Stand tall guru!” — as she would slip
me a smile along with a coy wink, meant
for just us two, only, serving the masses:
grumpy folks who had nothing in common
except distant blood lines, and stories
of Uncle Ray, who could complete a back flip
and land on his feet at fifty-one years old
to the delight of misty children. It was in these moments,
that I’d marvel and be in awe of her salty determination
and cornflower sass, and melt into a world
of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies,
as this crystal clear memory floats into my current
consciousness of years past.

Aunt Moira passed when I was twelve years old.
We stopped going to family reunions after that,
Instead visiting my Grandma Ruth’s dairy farm
on gentle spring weekends, the smell
of cornfields palpable, but Moira’s indelible
footprints left me dazzled and speechless,
a true pioneer among women living
in moldy small towns, emerging victorious
without even a bat of a false eyelash.

Michael W. Holland received his B.A. in Humanities from Michigan State University with emphases in English, Psychology, and Music. Michael only began writing four years ago when an outpouring of words occurred, calling him to let them out.

He began in a writer’s group based on the A.W. A. method created by Pat Schneider. So grateful to have found this passion, Michael realizes now that writing is indeed a gift. He’s taken classes in the M.A. program for Creative Writing at San Francisco State University in Poetry. It was an honor to be accepted into their program.

Michael has two poems published, “Blow By Blow” and “Living Past Doubts”. “Legacy” which is featured here today is his third, e-published work. The author notes that he is always grateful for those who read his work and he appreciates it when the reader takes with him a piece of his work that speaks to their heart.

Michael Can be found creating poetry at All Poetry and Flexwriters Creative Network (FCN), he enjoys writing challenges and interaction with other writers in his genre. You can friend him at FCN, Facebook.