A Child of Two Different Worlds

 

Different Worlds

different worlds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ever since I was born –

I’ve been a child of two different worlds.

Two languages and two cultures,

my parents being immigrants –

escaping the horrors of the war.

They made their way from their homeland of Latvia,

at the time separately one in a row boat and one on a shi.

They made it to the German shore,

now most of you will agree –

that Germany is a beautiful country indeed.

But those were the days it was war torn and practically demolished,

cities falling while bombs whistled by.

Nevertheless love prevailed and found its way through the dark.

My parent’s married in a Displaced Person’s Camp,

in Augustdorf, Germany.

Mom in her national costume,

if nothing around them seemed as it should –

their smiles were real and shone bright.

Then upon stormy seas they sailed to America’s shore,

steaming into New York Harbor,

the glittering sun shining from  Manhattan’s skyscrapers.

Bringing tears to the immigrant’s eyes

and so I was born –

a Latvian product made in America.

A child of two different worlds,

I never regretted a thing,

the chance to live and learn in two societies,

was the best for me.

Since dad had long since gone away,

to the stars in the heavens,

he was reburied in his native soil,

in Ranka where he was born

and mom lived out her days –

in the city of Riga which she loved.

So this child from two different worlds,

found love and settled for awhile,

in her parent’s homeland,

but I’ve vowed however soon I can –

that I’ll return to the land where I came from,

because I’m American born.

Rasma Raisters
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Rasma Raisters

I am a poet and writer. I write for many different sites online. I have two published books of poems on Amazon - Poetic Thoughts Fly and On the Wings of Love.

8 thoughts on “A Child of Two Different Worlds

  • August 28, 2016 at 1:44 AM
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    So beautiful Gypsy and I assume that is you as a baby? Beautiful too. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful story and I am so glad we can now do this sort of stories!

    • August 29, 2016 at 5:33 AM
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      Thank you Jackie. Yes, that is one of my first professional portraits when mom took me to a photographer. This is a nice way to share but I have stories of my dad who was a Latvian poet and writer and they can be of interest too but not in the form of verse so I don’t know if that can work too. We do put in stories as well so I’ll have to see.

  • August 28, 2016 at 3:27 AM
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    A lovely rendition of personal history and origins, nicely penned and heartfelt. We all owe our parents for their struggle and for giving us life, even in a torn world. Well done Rasma.

  • August 29, 2016 at 11:16 AM
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    Thank you for sharing this Rasma, I can see where you get your strength in love and positive outlook on life. How wonderful to have the history of two countrys. Enjoyed it.

    Best,
    Mel

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