One Big Family Poem by Jim Yerman

How big is your family? A simple question I was asked the other day…
but the questioner seemed confused when I did not answer right away.

How big is my family…I thought to myself…well I guess that all depends…
on your definition of family…and how far it should extend…

I know how many children and grandchildren I have…but it seems a bit unfair
that when it comes to estimating my family…I should stop my counting there.

What about my parents and all my relatives alive and dead…now there's a daunting list
but I'm pretty sure without them…my family wouldn't exist.

And what about all the friends I've made who give my life balance and symmetry…certainly I have to count them…as part of my family.

What about all the students I taught…all those innocent family members I acquired…
They didn't stop being family the moment I retired.

What about all the pets I've had…who did their talking with their eyes
counting them as family would certainly be wise.

Then there is every human being…all those other family members I have missed…
who share my genetic makeup…I must add them to the list.

I think I have an answer but I'm afraid it's an exorbitant amount…
How big is my family…I wonder…How high can one person count?

How big is your family? A simple question I was asked the other day…
But by the time I was ready with my answer…the man who asked had walked away..