Picture, but it isn’t for luck,
and it isn’t to remember her face,
I carry it for safekeeping,
I carry it so I can’t lose —
my tears on her winter jacket,
her sweet whispers you can do it
her soft, soprano serenade at midnight mass,
essence of her honeysuckle shampooed hair.
Seven years in the top left jacket pocket,
time has wrinkled this picture well.
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Jen Zarichny-Gregory is a poet and creative non-fiction writer whose work explores grief, family history and relationships. Growing up in Flint, Michigan, she was inspired by her Great Uncle Jim’s dedication to his political beliefs and advocacy. Her writing began with her inquisitive nature to find out more about his life outside of being her Uncle Jimmy. Her passion for exploring the rise and fall of her hometown, her great uncle’s life, and her family history, helped fill the void being away from Flint.
Currently residing outside of NYC, Jen continues to research and write about her family and hometown. With a prior career in corporate HR, she holds an MFA in creative writing. She is currently an adjunct professor in the Foundational Writing Program and Writing Studio tutor at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
