Smorgasbord Poetry – Colleen Chesebro’s Tuesday Weekly Challenge – #Choka – Origins by Sally Cronin

This week for Colleen Chesebro’s Poetry Challenge it is a themeprompt provided by Yvette Calleiro Beginnings and Endings

My husband and I decided to take advantage of the recently emerged DNA ancestry projects and in 2001 we both had our mitochondrial DNA tested. If you want an insight into the process before having your own DNA tested then I suggest you read Dr. Bryan Sykes book  The Seven Daughters of Eve – Amazon

When submitted, an individual’s mitochondrial DNA, passed along through the female line, is tested against seven sets of bones. Each of the identified set of bones found in various regions in Europe was given a name. My results showed that my DNA came from Helena whose bones dated back around 20,000 years ago. She was old for the time, at around 42 years old, which speaks to her strength and health.

In 2017 I also submitted my DNA to Ancestry and here is the latest profile showing not just the route of my ancestors from Helena, but also on my father’s side.

Because I don’t have any children, Helena’s bloodline will end with me, although around the world there will be millions of women who will continue to pass along her genes.. what a legacy.

I have created a Choka… to reflect the beginning and endings to my particular thread to Helena.

Choka – Origins

a journey begun
twenty thousand years ago
ancient ancestor
bones preserved in sacred cave
a woman of strength
gifting her precious bloodline
passed through her daughters
across the millenia
to end here with my passing

©Sally Cronin 2022

My most recent book is a collection of poetry and was published in July 2021

One of the reviews for the collection

Janice Spina – January 20th 2022 – Interview and Review Sally Cronin

Life is Like a Mosaic is a lovely collection of poetry that lifts the heart and the spirit. The author has the innate ability to create beautiful poems, thoughts, rhymes with words as if she has a magic wand.

She weaves ordinary words and creates the extraordinary before our eyes. There are fifty poems to enjoy covering feelings, experiences, hope, love, heartache, joy, friendship among others. She recalls her childhood memories, holidays, friends and other thoughts in flowing and creative rhyming poetry that takes one away to his/her own childhood nostalgically.

The colorful cover tells a tale all its own of life that can be so fractured yet somehow comes together in a beautiful way. The poems she creates give us hope in a troubled world of what is possible if we think positively. As she says in the poem, ‘Hope, Hope still springs eternal’.

I enjoyed all these wonderful poems but especially enjoyed ‘The Sunflower – One, and Sunflower – Two.’ In these two poems Sally expresses her thoughts – ‘Witness the sunflower as she swivels to stare and worship the gold god. Symbol of health and life the sunflower brightens every field that she graces.’

As I read all these poems I fell uplifted and free, all my troubles melted away. It was a beautiful feeling as I traveled along her words to float and flitter, my heart beating rhythmically with her lilting words. I highly recommend this beautiful collection. Thank you, Sally Cronin!

You can find all my books and buy links: Sally’s Books and Reviews 2022

 

Thanks for dropping by and I hope you have enjoyed the poem.. thanks Sally.