Garden Soil Sheen

New Jersey Uncle

Who found the ring I wear today

Has a darker skin tone

Than the rest of my Sicilian relatives.

My grandfather saw when my hair dyed jet black

“you look like a real Sicilian from New Jersey!”

And I kept it that way

For almost a year – a year where I clung to

That 25%

Of Mediterranean Genome.

My uncle worked with his hands

Colored like worked leather

Digging up this ring.

Serendipitous shape

Of a sterling silver dolphin

Rings my knuckle.

And my uncle’s knuckles

Some are missing

But he has enough knuckles

For ring-digging

Up the garden dirt.