The Conference Community Poem

by Alan King, Darlene Sansome, Kate Samuels, Czarecah aka Eya, Sharon Rose, Loreen Pardoe, Lisa Grodsky, Bella Kerr, and Rosalie Tallbull

The silhouette of a youth and elder hugging
forms a heart.

Cooking and sharing a meal together
is at the heart of family communication
and makes a strong connection, family bonding
at its finest moment.

When generations come together
a spark is formed.

We reach out — your hand, wrinkled
by experience of the years.
My younger yet calloused hand, at times
used to wipe out tears.

Why? Because I can.

Our hands each have stories,
overlapping,
counterpart.

It takes time to see how others are
and hearts are broken and mended
and friendships tuned that bring joy
while our hearts beat and time passes.

Joy is the name of this Generation Game,
Love is its battery.

The love between a grandchild and a grandparent
has no borders.

As we reach out to each other,
our silhouette forms a heart.

The shadow from their embrace
doesn’t disappear, even when apart.