Lineage & Legacy in Poetry
Explore how the past flows into the present through family and verse.
Lineage is more than a family tree. It's tradition. It's the passing down of values, stories, songs, and dances that shape who we are. What we leave behind after we're gone is our legacy, and it can create an imprint on future generations, even if those generations are not blood. Poetry gives us a way to reflect on how we look back and how we look forward, providing a perspective that deserves to be written.
Note: When my mother died, she left behind so many things that I didn't know about. My father also didn't know. She didn't share her past, which makes me wonder why she saved some of the things she did. Those items now have no meaning for me or anyone else. It would be as if she left behind a headdress, like the ones shown in the photo above, because the item was that disorienting for us. Stories are important, folks. If there are no stories, even about things brought down through generations, there is no history. Even if those stories cannot be proven, they fall into the category of myth. Myths are a form of truth.
🖋️Poetry Form Spotlight: Pantoum
The pantoum is a repeating form where the second and fourth lines of each stanza become the first and third lines of the next stanza. This cycle mimics the way family history and memory circle back through generations. It is a natural fit for exploring lineage and legacy.
For me, this is a difficult poetry form because I always end up feeling it's stilted and too formal. But I learned, over time and with practice, that if I treat the form more like a song with a refrain, I achieve better results. Here are some definitions and examples to explore:
Pantoum: Wikipedia
How To Write a Pantoum Poem: Writers dot com
Pen a Pantoum: Asian Art Museum
How To Write a Pantoum: The Poetry Place
✍️Mini-Prompt
Write a pantoum where each repeated line highlights something passed down in your family, such as an heirloom, a saying, a recipe, or a tradition. That's a good way to start with this poetry form.
💬 Call to action
When you finish your poem, consider sharing it at a family gathering. It can be a beautiful way to celebrate what continues across generations.
For more resources, such as poems about lineages and legacies and a checklist to use before you write your own poem, go to this week’s article at Goin’ Poetic.