Ancestors

My immigrant ancestors were happy to give up their

previous cultures. I have no documents or records from 

where they emigrated from in Ireland. 

No tea sets or photographs, no family lore. 

Our family never celebrated St. Patrick's Day. 

Even less did we celebrate our German heritage, 

as my grandparents hid it as best they could,  

except from their Irish neighbors and in-laws.

Now families are happy to shed their histories, 

of poor tenements or apartments,

of old, broken farmhouses or trailers. 

They only hold the imagination and the romance of those who didn't live it.