Cousins

Growing up in the 70s it was a big deal when we loaded up the car about once a month and drove south five hours to visit our cousins in Kentucky. It was a world full of love, delicious southern food, loving grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles and never ending adventures. We would usually arrive around 1:00 AM on a Friday night and our cousins would come dashing out the front door, running to greet us in their pajamas. It was the start of a 50 year relationship – knowing that no matter how much time goes by or how may miles divide us – cousin love never dies. It lives on in the memories and adventures we shared as children. Tell your cousin you love them today. And if you have children – help to develop those strong cousin bonds by letting them play together and grow old together so they have roots that run deep and true.

I love all of my cousins and wish them all a lifetime of blessings and happiness. This poem goes out to Jeanna – the little firecracker who loved to shove me off the porch with all her might and humor. Thanks for the memories.

We broke beans on the porch swing

Slept three to a bed

Played tag in the side yard

Chopped a rooster named Red

We rode motorcycles up the mountainside

Stayed warm with black coal

Overdosed on banana pudding

That’s just how we rolled

We left pennies on the train track

Rode the Nova to the store

Ran the cats off the front porch

As we slammed the screen door

Gravy and eggs for breakfast

Bee hives in the tree

Jumped off the smokehouse

Skinned up our skinny knees

Crossed state lines to see you

We stayed as long as we could

50 years has come and gone

No one warned us that it would

We never had sisters

Cousins will have to do

This is my love poem

From me to you

By Teresa McIntosh-Hall

@copyright

Teresa McIntosh-Hall is a writer, blogger, social worker and political activist who is grateful she grew up with cousins.