i saw him sitting there
leaning against a tree
spreading out tiny
squares of paper
with precision intensity

he opened a tiny bag a
tobacco smell WafTinG out
beginning gently laying
a straight line on
the paper thereabout

beyond him they stood in
a photo sepia toned
i watched him begin to rOLL
years marching by
he slowly rOLLed his own

a factory owner with
his worker’s stand
‘neath tinted photo sun
touting cigars a
few handle bar moustaches
some with Bowler hats on

walnut trees *dot* the
cobblestone streets in
Germantown, PA
“CIGAR MANUFACTURING”
advertisements
cigars on display

smells of leafy tobacco
PerMeaTe the air
penetrating the
 worker’s clothes to
filter through their hair

greenish brown tobacco
leaves are neatly
placed just so then
 layed upon still
moistened leaves
to be carefully rOLLed

my German uncle
Scottish grandfather own
the factories there
where workers sit
amidst tobacco leaves
staining hands and shirts

he finishes rolling at last
licking paper to press
closed the cigarette
with his thumb
 he tamps the tobacco down
tamping it down fast

behind him the workers stand
watching him now
complete the task
smiles overcoming frowns
they are pleased i can see
he knows how to rOLL his own

© September 2012
Renee Espriu

I don’t have a lot of family history here in the States that I find interesting but having relatives who owned cigar factories in the early 1900’s is a bit unique. I remember seeing someone roll their own cigarette and remembered some old photos showing both my uncle’s and grandfather’s factories and began to think…maybe too much…but wanted to share. Both of these family members’ families did migrate here at some point to the US from Germany and Scotland. Lots of immigrants started their own businesses and they were no exception.