Family

by Pat Diane Buckner

1977 Contest Winner

“Mine,” she said (her nose scraping the clouds),

“Is a name to be proud of.”

“Mine, too,” I said.

“In my line,” she said,

“are kings and rulers,

magistrates and counselors

to emperors.”

“In mine,” I said,

“are serfs and peasants,

fishermen and kitchen maids

for the middle class.”

And so she thought herself

better than I.

But I owe no one an apology

for my honorable genealogy.