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From: "Robert Carneal" <>
Subject: [EASTERNKENTUCKY] OT: Genealogy poem- Who wrote it?
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2007 20:30:23 -0600
In-Reply-To: <007301c73e91$479e5f90$4d00a8c0@Libby>


I have a genealogy poem I copied years ago. Actually, two of them, they are
the same, but the titles are different. Does anyone know who the author is?
I would give him / her credit.

------------------------Copy of poem. Somewhat lengthy-----------------
[Title 1] The Story Tellers
[Title 2] We are the chosen
My feelings are in each family there is one who seems called to find the
ancestors. To put flesh on their bones and make them live again, to tell the
family story and to feel that somehow they know and approve.

To me doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts but, instead,
breathing life into all who have gone before. We are the story tellers of
the tribe. All tribes have one. We have been called as it were by our genes.
Those who have gone before cry out to us: Tell our story. So, we do.

In finding them, we somehow find ourselves. How many graves have I stood
before now and cried? I have lost count. How many times have I told the
ancestors you have a wonderful family you would be proud of us? How many
times have I walked up to a grave and felt somehow there was love there for
me? I cannot say.

It goes beyond just documenting facts. It goes to who am I and why do I do
the things I do?

It goes to seeing a cemetery about to be lost forever to weeds and
indifference and saying I can't let this happen. The bones here are bones of
my bone and flesh of my flesh. It goes to doing something about it.

It goes to pride in what our ancestors were able to accomplish. How they
contributed to what we are today.

It goes to respecting their hardships and losses, their never giving in or
giving up, their resoluteness to go on and build a life for their family.

It goes to deep pride that they fought to make and keep us a Nation. It goes
to a deep and immense understanding that they were doing it for us. That we
might be born who we are. That we might remember them. So we do.

With love and caring and scribing each fact of their existence, because we
are them and they are us.

So, as a scribe called I tell the story of my family. It is up to that one
called in the next generation to answer the call and take their place in the
long line of family storytellers.

That, is why I do my family genealogy, and that is what calls those young
and old to step up and put flesh on the bones.
----------------End of poem copy------------

Can anyone tell me who the author is, and who I would need to ask for
permission to copy?

Thank you.

Robert


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