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Open Poetry #19
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Rick
Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 2903
Victoria, Australia

0 posted 2002-03-31 05:10 AM



I found a track that led me to the graveyard of the town
No markings of a road sign or a clue to go on down

I drove down to the gateway, which was closed with chain in place
No sign to signify the spot, which looked a real disgrace

I could see the gravestones standing, with all nature growing wild
I wandered round and read a stone that mourned for just a child

I felt a presence closing, maybe souls of resting dead
And pictured faces watching through a window in my head

They were gone and seemed forgotten by the ones who once had cared
Who now all may have joined them in a land where death is shared

But now, a cared not acre, that was fenced so long ago
And one by one each gravesite, by demise no one will know

I sat there only looking, feeling saddened by view
A heaviness inside did come, as other feelings grew

I sat there by a gravesite, as I’m sure so many did
With no tombstone as a memory, and a grave worth just a quid

No name embossed to signify the person or the date
Consumed by grass and uncared earth, a pauper to the wait

The rust had pitted what had been a cross of someone proud
A family name there buried, what name among the crowd?

A local, or a passer by, a child or someone old
A history does secrets keep, which death has never told

So a picture I have taken and memory here do keep
Of the local town dead centre, where some lonely dead still sleep

© Copyright 2002 Rick Van Weenen - All Rights Reserved
JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
1 posted 2002-03-31 05:16 AM


Reminds me of the time I was a young boy living in Florida and me and my brothers would often go hiking in the woods behind our house...there was one particular area where there was some old weeping willows and lots of overgrowth and one day while we were playing in that area we spoted something under all the overgrown...turned out it was an old overgrown graveyard...we found old gravestones under the bushes and plants...James
Rick
Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 2903
Victoria, Australia
2 posted 2002-03-31 05:40 AM


Hi James, thanks for the reply, I feel that our grave yard will oneday go the same way, it is sad, many of these graves are from 1860 on, it is a great shame.

Rick

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
3 posted 2002-03-31 10:15 AM


Very nice, Rick...
Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla
4 posted 2002-03-31 11:05 AM


Rick,
An excellent write and enjoyable read. Happy Easter.

Cerenity
Member Elite
since 2000-02-16
Posts 2637
Escondido-California
5 posted 2002-04-01 08:32 PM


Hi Rick,

Very vivid poetry, well done and enjoyed.

Love, Cerenity

Suetang
Member Ascendant
since 2001-03-07
Posts 5187
Melbourne, Australia
6 posted 2002-04-02 12:10 PM


Hello Rick

So chilling were your images as I too have seen what you just described so very well.  The title of the poem grabbed me as I lay some flowers at my father's grave today although where my father lays is under a Moreton Bay fig tree and the grounds are well kept.  How sad to think that these deceased persons you speak of have been simply forgotten and almost consumed by nature.  You wrote this so very well and I was mesmerised by each and every verse.  Thank you so much.

Take care......Sue

Suetang

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