7 Comments
User's avatar
Regina Peralta 🇵🇭's avatar

Oh, this was so precious to read, Rachielle. Thank you for sharing a piece of your family's history with the world!

Expand full comment
meghna rao's avatar

So, so lovely. It's so interesting how many languages around the world have this distinction between the literary language and what is spoken.

Expand full comment
Rachielle Sheffler's avatar

Thank you for commenting. Yes, my dad’s language was quite poetic.

Expand full comment
nam's avatar

everything about this is beautiful, Rachielle. from your dad's declaration when he first saw your mom, to the poems he named after her, to your auntie's "unlock the difficulties," to you diligently working on translating his poem, then to the poem itself! my heart feels warm reading it, thank you for sharing

Expand full comment
Rachielle Sheffler's avatar

Thank you! My mom just revealed that the pen name was hers! Papa still wooed her with poems, but he wrote in Ilocano. Now I have to edit the article. I'm glad the article resonated with you.

Expand full comment
Anna Manlulo's avatar

I love that generation who were avid writers and tellers of stories and poems. My Lolo used to come up with "Tula" on the fly. No technology or apps or AI... Sigh

Expand full comment
Rachielle Sheffler's avatar

In Ilocano, we called Tula Daniw, also on the fly! Thank you for reading!

Expand full comment