Honoring Distant or Lost Family Connections
Bridge the distance between hearts and generations through verse.
Some family connections lose their essence across time and space. Others fade through migration and/or lack of documentation. Even more relations become whispers, thanks to arguments, infighting, or disowning. Writing poetry about those lost or distant relationships helps us reach across generations. It allows us to speak what was left unsaid. Sometimes, that’s enough to mend an invisible thread.
Granted, poetic license allows us to speak for others, but in this case, you could be yourself and use your own thoughts, feelings, and words as you open the door to welcome those once-lost individuals.
Poetry Form Spotlight: The Epistle (Letter Poem)
An epistle poem is written as a letter to someone, living or dead, near or far. It’s the perfect form for reconnecting with a relative or ancestor you never met, or one you lost along the way. Use it to express what you wish you could say, offer gratitude, or seek peace.
🪶 Tip: Begin your poem as you would a real letter: “Dear…” and sign it at the end if you wish.
Epistolary Poem from poets.org
Epistolary poem from Wikipedia
Learning the Epistolary Poem from Poetry Foundation
Mini-Prompt
Write an epistle poem that begins with:
“Dear one, I never had the chance to know you…”
Be sure to visit Goin’ Poetic’s website to read the full article, including a reading list and a checklist you might want to tap into before you begin writing.
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