dad’s brother
had a story
from before the war
~
a guard at the palace
grandpa was a trickster
with a secret habit
~
kaiser’s horse
reckless rides
all the guards
loved him for it
~
the kaiser
was thrown
drills and questions
no answers
~
they all masked
silent smiles
~
my grandpa
had an identical twin
~
his brother
drank, beat his wife
an extreme nationalist
~
in 1926
my grandpa
made a choice
~
never seeing
his fatherland
his family
again
~
identical genes
same upbringing
~
how can two people be so different ?
~
my dad’s parents
three siblings
another on the way
~
from a war
my grandpa learned
the horror
possibility
of nationalism
~
my grandpa chose peace
a new beginning
a new home
~
in 1926
my grandpa chose
a boat
to north america
~
