<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="auto"><font size="5">Love this, Annie! </font></div><div dir="auto"><font size="5"><br></font></div><div dir="auto"><font size="5">"Sun's doctrine" and "bronzed me fearless" - such vivid imagery.</font></div><div dir="auto"><font size="5"><br></font></div><div dir="auto"><font size="5">Reminiscent of Joy Harjo.</font></div><div dir="auto"><font size="5"><br></font></div><div dir="auto"><font size="5">Thank you for sharing!</font></div><div dir="auto"><font size="5"><br></font></div><div dir="auto"><font size="5">Miss Ruth </font></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div id="composer_signature" dir="auto"><div style="font-size:12px;color:#575757" dir="auto">Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone</div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div><br></div><div align="left" dir="auto" style="font-size:100%;color:#000000"><div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Ann Chiappetta via Stylist <stylist@nfbnet.org> </div><div>Date: 2/26/23 7:23 PM (GMT-05:00) </div><div>To: 'Writers' Division Mailing List' <stylist@nfbnet.org> </div><div>Cc: Ann Chiappetta <anniecms64@gmail.com> </div><div>Subject: [Stylist] poem for reading and comment </div><div><br></div></div><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal">When I thought we were kin</p><p class="MsoNormal">By Ann Chiappetta</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Folks called me Snow Baby</p><p class="MsoNormal">A Native likeness</p><p class="MsoNormal">Bold face, plentiful hair, </p><p class="MsoNormal">Almond-shaped eyes </p><p class="MsoNormal">The whispers of a grandmother’s affair </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">When I thought we were kin</p><p class="MsoNormal">I sang, delighted by the sun’s doctrine </p><p class="MsoNormal">And then was Betrayed by a false treaty named Divorce</p><p class="MsoNormal">And Entered a Brave New World</p><p class="MsoNormal">Where second hand and thrift.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Bronzed me fearless.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Later, when being kin seemed impossible</p><p class="MsoNormal">And probable, depending on who was asked</p><p class="MsoNormal">I believed it Despite the </p><p class="MsoNormal">eventual proof offered with a cheek swab or mail-order saliva.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">I live, love, thrive, fight, endure </p><p class="MsoNormal">grieve, Grind my spirit into the earth and Heavens, </p><p class="MsoNormal">and listen to the messages in the wind </p><p class="MsoNormal">and hear from the song in my heart’s blood, of what is to come</p><p class="MsoNormal">Because I still believe in kin.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="text-align:center" align="center" class="MsoNormal">Ann M. Chiappetta, M.S.</p><p style="text-align:center" align="center" class="MsoNormal">Making Meaningful ConnectionsThrough Media </p><p class="MsoNormal">914.393.6605 USA</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Anniecms64@gmail.com">Anniecms64@gmail.com</a></p><p class="MsoNormal">All things Annie: <a href="http://www.annchiappetta.com">www.annchiappetta.com</a> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></body></html>