“Easter with the Ukrainians” by Joan MacIntosh

 

When Chris and I

were young girls

we spent several weekends

in the home of my father’s friend

Mr. Barij.

We slept in a stuffy,

dormer-windowed room.

We ate remarkable 

tiered pastry and

strange, wonderful

cabbage rolls.

We breathed a 

fragrant, foreign world.

We took pleasure in the

sounds of language

because we could not

understand it.

We painted eggs all day.

***

Joan MacIntosh lives in St. John’s, NL, but grew up in the Toronto area. Her father worked at Stelco and was befriended by Ukrainian immigrants, and her family was enriched by that friendship. Joan has written prose and poetry most of her adult life and is enjoying taking Brian’s writing courses.

“Easter with the Ukrainians” was previously published in TickleAce.

See Brian Henry’s upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and weekend retreats here.