A Peasant Girl Who Left Poland Poem by Joe Rosochacki

she was a young girl, named Louise, leaving her whole her family and many a friend
and boarded a boat in Holland
for New York
a new country, a new life for this 15-year old girl from Poland
for the European situation would be bleak
she would venture the Atlantic for almost two weeks
she would eventually meet her future husband Jozef Polaniec
they spoke the same language, shared the same faith, and customs,
she would find work in NYC as a maid/housekeeper,
she would eventually learn to make Gifelte fish for her Jewish family that she tended for
she would respond to an ad which was placed by Jozef
that she had met years prior
they were engaged and married
later this once peasant girl had two children, one died an early death; one
lived.
this once peasant girl and her husband had five living grandchildren
they all lived in a home with a single bathroom in Hamtramck
she would eventually have her daughter give her grandson some music lessons
I owe you Louise
for that farm girl from Poland had my mother who eventually had me
So Happy Birthday Louise, I will always think of you on this day.

4/1/2011