A Family She Did Not Know

An anonymous letter flusters Mother;
she reads it in her easy chair, one
winter shock like summer breeze
among the snow-capped trees…
an unknown niece, the letter
sender, a sister and some
brothers too, a family
found suddenly, like
found money only
more profound. 

November’s winds, the falling
leaves abiding gently on the
snow, her heart-rate quick
(my Mother’s pulse) as
she takes in what it
says, astonishment,
an undertow, letter
so surreal, for she
(my Mom) was
orphaned
long
ago… 

So now
there comes
this postal prank,
announcing family
unknown?  There is a
number given—should Mom
reach for the telephone and call?
She has felt empty often enough,
and needs no further tears.  Still she
calls, and she cries all right, yet for
a different reason.


32 Lines
Writer’s Cramp
9-8-19

Requirements:
--anonymous letter
--falling leaves
--empty