International Relations

International Relations

The Libbys were the first to come to settle in Maine’s sticks.
They left old England’s foggy shores ‘bout 1636.
Close followed by a myriad of families who came
To seek their fortunes, to be free, or maybe to get fame.
And it would be so simple if my genealogy
Were only English – but it’s not. There’s a world war in me!
The Scots and Irish over there of English were not fond
But fell in love and married them on this side of the pond.
The French and Indians raided them in 1692.
My spouse was an Acadian when all those wars were through.
The English drove Acadians from Nova Scotia’s shore.
Our German fathers took their land and stayed there evermore.
My German grandpa fought for Canada in World War I
And buried his twin brother on French soil before ‘twas done.
As if all that were not enough, before my story ends,
Consider the diversity there is among my friends.
I’ve several from Native tribes, and some Latinos, too.
In Singapore, my Muslim Malay friend chooses to woo
A Chinese girl. It’s been quite hard, but they have stuck a while,
And for myself, a Hindu Indian always makes me smile.
I guess it is no wonder that I argue with myself,
Although I would prefer to keep the factions on the shelf.
The moral of my story and the point of this new song
Is we are one big family and ought to get along.

~ Marilyn Gordon ~

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