Family Legends
There’s a tale in my family, long whispered and told,
Of a great-aunt who danced with the fire so bold.
Her name was Annabelle, though you’d never have guessed,
For she wore many masks, a heart never at rest.
They say she spoke with the moon in the sky,
And had visions that could make a grown man cry.
Her words, they were magic, a song on the breeze,
And her footsteps left footprints that danced through the trees.
She wasn’t like us—quiet, reserved,
Her spirit wild, uncontained, unserved.
She’d gather the children and take them away,
To the woods, to the fields, where the wild things play.
She wore a ring made of silver and stone,
Passed down through the ages, though she was alone.
Its stone was black, deep as the night,
And some swore it gleamed with a faint, eerie light.
Grandfather would scold, tell us not to believe,
But the stories still linger, like smoke on the eve.
Her laughter, they say, would echo for miles,
And she’d disappear with the sun, in a flash of wild smiles.
No one knows how she vanished that night,
But the stars still blink in her memory’s light.
Some say she sailed to the edge of the world,
Where dreams and the seas swirl and twirl.
A legend unspoken, but carried with pride,
In the whispers of ages, she’s never denied.
And though her face is lost in the fog,
We remember her still, in the tales we blog.
When the night feels too quiet, when the wind starts to howl,
I think of her dancing, her spirit on the prowl.
Maybe, just maybe, she’s still out there, free—
A part of the moon, a whisper on the sea.
Changes in Family Life
The house is empty, no footsteps to run,
No chaos, just a slow pace for everyone.
The kitchen once filled with voices and cheer,
Now just echoes silence-a dramatic shift this year.
Still, in the quiet, there's room to breathe,
And find our way back to what we used to believe.
The change, though upon us in such heavy ways,
Wouldn't dislodge love, and so we grew into stillness and find a new refrain.
Sasha Vershynin is a 16-year-old writer from California, where the rhythm of the ocean and the vastness of the desert provide the backdrop for their creativity. Sasha’s work often reflects their deep empathy and introspection, shaped by a journey through personal struggles, resilience, and the desire to create meaningful change. As a passionate advocate for mental health and feminism, they balance their writing with leadership in nonprofit work, organizing community events, and empowering others. Sasha believes in the power of storytelling to bridge gaps and give voice to those who need it most. When they’re not writing, they’re often found exploring the natural world or dreaming up future endeavors to help others.
Photo provided by author.