Monday 16 April 2012


beneath the granite headstones

moss and lichen obscures
weather erodes
names that came before
words writ long ago
of who is laid to rest

beneath the granite headstones
final resting place
Janet,Eve, Thomas and John
1856, 1764, 1883 then 1888
ages 19, 21, 34 and 69

life lived long ago
immortality carved in stone
village folk with hopes and wishes
as we have today
mere generations separate us

memories fade
family names will disappear
in annals of time
at the closing of each life
beneath the granite headstones

36 comments:

Elaine said...

I enjoy wandering around old churchyards, looking, reading, pondering, feeling. You have captured and expressed that all so beautifully - and I love the ending. Superb work.

Ola said...

sad, we all end up the same way...
Life and travelling
Cooking

Cuby said...

Elaine: Pleased you enjoyed this one, it took some time to find the right words until I was happy to post it.

Cuby said...

Ola: That's just the way it is!

KaHolly said...

Oh, I'll bet I have a ton of pictures that would accompany this verse so well!! I love wandering old cemeteries and you've certainly captured the feeling.

Out on the prairie said...

Sometimes when I visit I try to imagine how their lives were similar to mine living in the same area.Lovely verse

Cuby said...

KaHolly: I hope the picture you can conjure in your mind will do as well any digitally produced ones!

Cuby said...

Out on the prairie: If only it were possible to time travel what fun that would be!

Viola said...

So terribly sad, incomprehensible.. yet so natural, so beautiful.. the contrast of living.. the death..

I want to believe they are happy somewhere, beyond us.. somehow..in a world beyond..

and.. I start to wonder.. do you know who these people were -- or did you just figure them out, in your fantasy, to make this lovely poem fit together..? :)

Nancy said...

I can visualize it so clearly. :)

Al said...

I sometimes wonder at what the lives were like for the people buried in graves like that. Fundamentally they weren't any different than us.

I also prefer the wide-open spaces, as you can tell from my blog. But I can enjoy a city once in a while too.

Evlyn said...

I too enjoy wandering around graveyards and the most interesting headstones are the ones where "moss and lichen obscure", as you said. Very evocative. Your poem fits the mood of spring, where nature takes over everything, including man's vain attempts at immortality.

EG CameraGirl said...

Your words make me think how family names will disappear more easily now that so many people are cremated and there are fewer head stones.

Cuby said...

Viola: The names were on the headstones and no I have no idea who they were, maybe there is some of my imagination mixed with reality......who can tell?

Cuby said...

Nancy Claeys: It was a thoughtful place to be. :)

Cuby said...

Al: The names don't tell much about the people so I wonder often how their lives must have been. I can have a fix of the city every now and then but I am pleased to head home to the country.

Cuby said...

Evlyn: Victorian graves are a wealthy persons attempt to be remembered but as you say so often in vain.Hey ho life goes on.

Cuby said...

E G CameraGirl: I too wonder how different it will be in the future when so many people are cremated.

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

I love this. I enjoy cemetaries. I have a post about one coming up in the near future!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

This reminded me of the times we visit the old cemeteries at Cades Cove (part of the Smoky Mtns. in Tennessee)... I love wandering around and thinking about those who have died --and the types of lives they had back then.. Must have been rough for so many!!!!

Thanks.
Hugs,
Betsy

Cuby said...

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm: Graveyards are such interesting places full of so many emotions - glad you like this one.

Cuby said...

Betsy from Tennessee: Thanks.

eileeninmd said...

What timing, I recently went to visit the cemetery where my grandparents and great grandparents are buried. I like to explore and read the headstones. I had to take a photo of the headstone so I could attach it to the family tree I am working on.

Cuby said...

eileeninmd: Such evocative places, so many memories.

Jim said...

Nice to meet you and read your poems. I admire this ability to be concise and creative. Nice job.
Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Roy said...

Superb.

Cuby said...

Jim: Welcome here. So pleased you like my poetry. Thanks for your comment.

Crafty Green Poet said...

so much personal history that is just lost over time,

Cuby said...

Crafty Green Poet: Thanks.

Cuby said...

Roy: Thanks.

CherryPie said...

But then their is rebirth and the cycle is renewed :-)

Cuby said...

CherryPie: Yes I agree but everything is cyclic after all. :)

Doris said...

This little poem makes me sad and smile at the same time.

Cuby said...

Doris: These two emotions are perfect for this place after all.

Simone de Klerk said...

Beautifully expressed! Makes me go back into time ...

Cuby said...

Simone de Klerk: Thought provoking places I think, very glad you liked this one. Thanks.