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:
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.
sad, we all end up the same way...
Life and travelling
Cooking
Elaine: Pleased you enjoyed this one, it took some time to find the right words until I was happy to post it.
Ola: That's just the way it is!
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.
Sometimes when I visit I try to imagine how their lives were similar to mine living in the same area.Lovely verse
KaHolly: I hope the picture you can conjure in your mind will do as well any digitally produced ones!
Out on the prairie: If only it were possible to time travel what fun that would be!
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..? :)
I can visualize it so clearly. :)
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.
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.
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.
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?
Nancy Claeys: It was a thoughtful place to be. :)
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.
Evlyn: Victorian graves are a wealthy persons attempt to be remembered but as you say so often in vain.Hey ho life goes on.
E G CameraGirl: I too wonder how different it will be in the future when so many people are cremated.
I love this. I enjoy cemetaries. I have a post about one coming up in the near future!
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
Lisa @ Two Bears Farm: Graveyards are such interesting places full of so many emotions - glad you like this one.
Betsy from Tennessee: Thanks.
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.
eileeninmd: Such evocative places, so many memories.
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.
Superb.
Jim: Welcome here. So pleased you like my poetry. Thanks for your comment.
so much personal history that is just lost over time,
Crafty Green Poet: Thanks.
Roy: Thanks.
But then their is rebirth and the cycle is renewed :-)
CherryPie: Yes I agree but everything is cyclic after all. :)
This little poem makes me sad and smile at the same time.
Doris: These two emotions are perfect for this place after all.
Beautifully expressed! Makes me go back into time ...
Simone de Klerk: Thought provoking places I think, very glad you liked this one. Thanks.
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