The more I age, the more
I see my father and my father’s
father and my mother’s father
Like when you see yourself
repeated in opposing mirrors
I see an endless row of men.
Watching photographs I see myself
in black and white, in sepia,
I see it in the way they tilt their heads,
a jawline here, an eye, an ear,
I see my future in the way they aged.
And so the photo album melts
amalgamates into the me I meet
in shadows and in the mirrors.
Into the weight of DNA
the helix codes I carry.
Two Male Figures Looking in a Mirror and a Putto. by Jacopo Pontormo
In this crazy month of April I add another poem, I’m still behind but hope to get up to thirty. This is written for Kim who prompt us to write about the heritage we carry in our flesh at dVerse, maybe it’s an eye, your mouth. Go into the details and explain.
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April 24, 2018
Björn Rudbergs writings 
“I see my future in the way they aged” – I recognise that one! Great write.
I love the way you always find an unusual piece of artwork to illustrate your poetry, Bjorn! I also love the reflections of the ‘endless row of men’ and that you see yourself in those old photographs and that you see your future in the way they aged.I often look in the mirror and see both my mother and my grandmother. My favourite lines:
‘And so the photo album melts
amalgamates into the me I meet
in shadows and in the mirrors’.
I almost always looks for artworks after i write the poem… that way I think it adds to the poem rather than just describing the content.
I do the same!
Funny you only see yourself in men.
It’s a burden I know….
I say that because we tend to see family characteristics transmitted regardless of gender.
and after us, those genes will still live on…
Not mine… they will end here.
but there will be a branch somewhere which carries some of the same genetic mix…
That’s a lovely poem Bjorn – the first stanza in particular is wonderful .. love the opposing mirrors image
My sister and I quite often talk about how we’re turning into our mother, and she’s turning into her mother in turn. It is a little odd when you look at yourself in a photo and can quite clearly see another family member looking back at you.
What a great poem — especially the last stanza. This is my favorite section:
“And so the photo album melts
amalgamates into the me I meet
in shadows and in the mirrors.”
There’s proof beyond all doubt of your lineage, (way better than those dna tests).
I like the artwork and this excellent line (from your lineage): “And so the photo album melts amalgamates into the me I meet”
Photo albums do reveal a lot of folks who sent their helix down to you. Great poem. Nothing can withstand the weight of the helix! A great line.
dwight
Such a very clever way to approach the prompt. I most definitely see my mother, not only in appearance but in every aspect of behavior, it seems. Even in the quirks of aging that used to drive me crazy. Oh dear.
I love the last stanza
Always love reading you. The opposing mirrors line is great as is the beginning… “The more I age”…
Truly, your heritage which none of us can deny. Love the sepia reference as well as the shadows.
It’s beautiful that we see them in us as we age, our family. I have my mom’s hands and my Granny’s eyes. To think future generations will see us. Very nicely written! =)
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Those glimpses we just catch in passing…they echo the strongest I think. Unguarded, they reveal. (K)
This is wonderful! I particularly liked the line:
“I see my future in the way they aged.”
I sense a certain fatal disbelief in your poem, Bjørn. Weakness repeating itself. Rather believe in the fondness of the great grandfather, who gave name to the family, and whose traits are more or less repeated by the sons. It has to do with identity. Self-confidence. Your mother’s father was a different family from yours.
my favourite part of your poem was when the photo album melts into a helix, very descriptive and i could really imagine that.
Enjoyable, Björn. I particularly liked this part, “into the me I meet
in shadows and in the mirrors.” I also appreciate your comment above about how you select the artwork that goes with your poem after you’ve written it. I’ve been having fun with that this month by selecting photos to go with the poems I post. I agree that it adds to the piece.
A lovely poem and I think we all think when we are young that it won’t happen but it invariably does.
Beautifully written and portrayed. I don’t know if I like the idea of seeing myself in my ancestors faces. At the moment I can’t, but perhaps I need to age a bit more and we all share the same-shaped wrinkles. 🙂
I like the idea of seeing your image as if in mirrors stretching back infinitely. Perfect illustration, too.
loved every line Bjorn (and made me rethink my own humble contribution!!) .. and you pick the perfect artwork that mirrors your words each time!!