N.G. Haiduck

Haiduk

INHERITANCE

He wants the mortar and pestle of brass 

carried by his great-grandmother from Russia 

to America. Her heavy heirloom, 

not new even then, his only heirloom, 

made to last:  solid, dull, pitted brass,  

engraved with the maker’s mark in Russian. 

Never will he rub the smudge of Russia 

from the pocked surface of his sole heirloom. 

He strikes the pestle against mortar of brass, 

ringing anew his brass heirloom from Russia.

Back story: My father-in-law, Abe, knew Neal, my husband, wanted the mortar and pestle, carried to the USA by Great-Grandma Leah, and stored by Aunt Sarah in the back of her kitchen cabinet. 

When Aunt Sarah died, Neal was afraid his cousin would take the mortar and pestle, and not let him have it—just because he wanted it. (She was like that.) So his father, at age 95, snuck into his sister’s empty apartment and took the mortar and pestle for Neal.  It’s the only thing we have of our dear aunt. Our cousin never missed it.  

Abe was proud of his deed.