In Ameryka, a Polish soul resides,
Yearning to find roots, yet bound by divides–
Longing to walk lanes of ancestral past,
To explore origins, reach them at last.
He pictures faces of his long-lost kin,
Ones who left Poland, those who stayed within.
He desires to walk the towns where they grew,
To learn how they lived, to feel what they knew.
Birthplace of Copernicus and Curie
Kociuszko, Chopin and Sobieski,
He dreams of a country, green and serene,
Of castles and churches, old and pristine.
Cold War shadows lingered, foiling sojourn
To the land of forbears, their tales to learn.
Opportunities missed, plans put on hold,
Power politics made mistrust unfold.
Old hostilities, the scars that remain
Kept a Pole by genes from breaking the chain.
Yet deep in his heart, a flame still burns bright,
Pining to connect, thirsty for insight.
From communist to budding fascist
People willing but unable to resist
Despite setbacks and challenges ahead
Their spirit persisted, was never dead.
But since elections brought freedom restored,
The call for a visit can’t be ignored.
He’ll relish pierogis and kielbasa,
Listen to polsku as voiced by Busia.
He looks forward to a new kinship built
So he may enjoy himself to the hilt
With plenty of occasions to explore
Poland’s wonders he’d been denied before.
© 2024, Kenneth Koziol. All rights reserved.
