Mike, I think this is a tremedous poem. I am copying for my son, and my first grandson (named after me), and mailing to them, and also a copy to my friends at Compton List. Many thanks, Dan-----Original Message----- From: jcrumptn@midsouth.rr.com <jcrumptn@midsouth.rr.com> To: CRUMPTON-L@rootsweb.com <CRUMPTON-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Sunday, February 07, 1999 5:04 PM Subject: Unidentified subject! >Cousins, >Since everyone has been a little quiet lately, maybe you might enjoy this >poem: > >^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^% >"ANCESTORS" > >What's in a name? >The talented poet asked. >Look deep listen: >The pulse of our ancestors. >The heartbeat of nations past >Land, >Language, >Faith. > >Look into a name. >What do you see? >Letters only? >Look deeper. >See the people >Who lived that name. >Not letters but flesh and blood. >Flesh to our flesh. >Blood to our blood. >Faith to our faith. >Ancestors. > >You who bore my name, >Were your thoughts passed to me? >Do I dream your dreams? >The sun you saw I see. >The moon plays for us both. >Days are days. >Years are years. >But centuries separate us. > >You who lived centuries ago >With my name. >Did you see me then? >You have not left this earth! >You live in my name. >You live in me. >I give you earthly immortality. > >My eyes see a different land. >My ears hear different sounds. >But we worship in unison. >The God of your youth. > >My faith you have given me. >The God who watched over you >Watches over me. >Centuries collapse as Faith unites. > >Leave you, my ancestor? >I could never leave you >Without leaving myself. >I take pride in you. >The soil of your homeland >Rests in my heart. >Your native language >Is the melody of your dreams. > >I look into your name >And see myself. > > written by W.H. Zoschak (a Slovak) > >I think this says so much about why we research our lines and feel such a >kinship with our namesakes. I don't know about the rest of you, but when I >see the signatures or their mark on documents that my ancestors have >signed; it's as if I'm transported back to that time and event and I >actually see them and watch as the newly married couple make it official or >the terminally sick sign their wills. It sends shivers right up my arms. > >cousin Mike > >