A Field Guide to French Peoples 2

In the seventeenth century
In Orléans, France,
Was born Antoine Fissiau dit Laramée,
His second surname indicating
The features of the land
Where he lived.

He married Jeanne Millet
In Pointe aux Trembles,
In Quebec, making
This branch
Of the family
Sooner arrived
In the New World.

Eight generations later,
And three generations 
In St-François du Lac,
Ulric Laramee
Became the father
Of Romeo Laramee.

Romeo emigrated
To America
Twice.

The first time
To Raymond, New Hampshire,
Where he worked as a barber,
But life proved overwhelming,
And so he went back,
And then he tried again,
With many other French-Canadians,
Joining the immigrant community 
In Woonsocket,
Where he endured the wool mills.

He became the father
Of Jeannine Laplume,
My mother,
In lilac time.

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