Our daughter Martha came home this weekend with her 7 week old, June Margaret “Junebug”. We were talking about names and the fact that Margaret is a family name on both sides. My grandmother and my husband’s grandmother were both named Margaret. Apparently Martha didn’t know about Mate’s name, Jeff’s grandmother, because she only knew her as “Mate” and Betsy Ross.
Jeff’s grandmother grew up in Canada. His grandparents’ love story starts with a bad fish. Cecil Lennan was in the hospital in Toronto, Canada and opened his eyes to the love of his life, Margaret Ross. They married in New York City, and Cecil “Pate” nicknamed her Betsy. “Since you are an American now, you should be Betsy Ross.” She was never again called Margaret. New life. New country. New name.
Shortly after their marriage, “Betsy” Ross Lennan traveled back home to her family in Canada. While she was gone, Cecil wrote her letters. This was 1925. We still have three of them. In 2018, I was writing in a workshop and used one of these letters to write a found poem. I blogged about it here.
Since today is Valentine’s Day, I am reposting this love poem.
Come Back, my Love
(after Cecil Lennan, 1925.)
If you come in on the 7:47, bring the bathing suit with you.
And bring back yourself even if you forget all of the above.Bring back that dark brown hair I love,
the big wavy curl that hangs
continuously over your left eye.Bring back the eyes looking into mine
telling me you are mine.
Bring back the nose,
your quivering lips–silent.Bring back the arms that have hugged me
so tightly–a little tighter still, because–
because they wanted to.Bring back your heart, that electric spark
thrilling my toes, my body to my head
and down again–and again.Bring back the mystery, the wonder,
Margaret Simon, found poem (c) 2018
the sweetness that is yours.
I will take it all, put my arms around it
all, and hug, and kiss, and love it
for ages and ages.
Will you?
Margaret, what a treasure to have these letters – – and how proud Cecil would be that you used them to continue such a loving spirit by including them in your found poem. This is perfect for Valentine’s Day! Long live love!
Margaret, your post is beautiful and filled with love. I love the beginning of your post when you talk about your adorable Junebug. I adored the photo and poem sent in the poetry new year exchange. How wonderful that you have two of your grandfather’s letters and what a beautiful tribute your poem is to grandparents’ love. Thank you for sharing your poem, post, inspiration and joy.
Made me cry! Sweet love! Wonderful found poem and love story!
Oh, wow, what a poem, what a love letter, what artistic cursive writing! So beautiful. Thank you for sharing. What a wonderful name to have in your family–Margaret. 🙂 That is a family name for my sister-in-law, Margaret, as well. There are generations in her family.
This is so beautiful, Margaret. Gave me the chills.
Beautiful! I am struck by the repetition. The writing on the envelopes is lovely, too.
Such a story and such a poem! What a treasure to still have those letters, and the pair are perfect for sharing today. So much love. (Also, I don’t think I ever told you that my mother’s name was Margaret, though she went by Midge.)
Oh Margaret! I remember this from the first time you posted it – I loved it then & I love it now. So beautiful – and such a good story. I love that Junebug gets to be part of this name-story, too. Thanks for sharing this today.
Margaret, I missed your prior post so I went back in time to read the lovely love story and your found poem.Here are the lines that touched me:
bring back the mystery, the wonder,
the sweetness that is yours.
Your family is blessed with a legacy of love.
Such lovely words and handwriting too! I love, love this idea. I’m thinking I should try it with some of my dad’s letters written during WWII.