The African Violet

“The African Violet” by Miranda Kincer

The first flower I planted was an
African Violet.
“Your Grandma kept African Violets,”
my mom said,
keeping our history alive through her stories.

Womanhood is being called to a flower
by generations past.
Women entangled with nature
during their lives continue that
legacy after death.

With the dirt I used to play in as a child,
I lovingly covered the violet seeds to
cement my grandmother’s memory,
the same way my cat covers our food with air,
an act of preservation. Whereas most flowers are poison,
African Violets are non-toxic to curious kitties.
Love is a lineage of cat ladies.

My mom was the first person to love me.
                Grandma the first person to love her.
                                 Generations of love nurtured and warmed in my windowsill.
My African Violet grows on this legacy.

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