The Old Wooden Trunk

“I came from Hessen-Damstadt, Germany
A hundred plus years ago,
Containing the family’s possessions
All stored away for safe passage
To a land called America.”

I came from Hessen-Damstadt, Germany.
And, o, the special stories I could tell
Of William’s voyage across the ocean
Of his entry in 1865 at Racine
Of homesteading to Kansas Territory in 1868,
Where I first lived in a small “shanty”
Until 1875 when the Stone House was built.
There I was moved . . .

“Here I still sit, in the upstairs hallway.
Not gathering dust, rather gathering love
As the generations come and evolve
First generation . . .
William, Wilhelmina, and eleven children
Second generation . . .
Otto, Effie, and four children
Third generation . . .
Dale, Leona, and five children
Fourth generation . . .
Eugene, Debbie, and three children.
The Stone House on a five generation farm
Oh, the special stories I could tell.”

“I came from Hessen-Damstadt, Germany.
A hundred plus years ago.
Today I contain, not family possessions,
But pictures, memories, and stories
For the generations of Berges to come.”