Tombstone Reader

TOMBSTONE READER


I WANDERED THROUGH THE HILLSIDE CEMETERY
TRYING TO READ
THE WEATHERED MARKINGS ON THE STONES
SOME STALWART ONES
STILL LEANED AGAINST THE HILL
WHILE OTHERS
TIRED
HAD FALLEN AND SETTLED
ON THE GROUND

IT WAS AN ANCIENT CEMETERY
WEATHER-WORN AND OVERGROWN
YET HERE I FOUND ONE PLOT
THOUGH OVERGROWN AS WERE THE REST
BORE ON ITS BOSOM A ROSE BUSH
THE STONE STILL STANDING

AND ETCHED UPON IT VERY DEEP
AS IF TO SHOW THE CARVER'S SORROW
WAS WRITTEN ANNIE
AND NOTHING MORE

HOW PRETTY THE BUSH
IN THIS SO DESOLATE SPOT
I WONDERED WHO HAD PLANTED IT
SOME LOVER OR A HUSBAND
HAD DUG AWAY THE DIRT
THEN STANDING
LOOKING AT IT
HAD RECALLED LAUGHTER

SOME SISTER OR A BROTHER
HAD LOOKING AT THE STONE
REMEMBERED THE BITTER THINGS
THAT CHILDREN SOMETIMES SAY

SOME CHILD
HAD LOVINGLY PATTED DOWN THE EARTH
AND GAVE IT
ITS FIRST WATERING
TEARS

SOME MOTHER
OR A FATHER
LOOKING AT IT BLOOMING
HAD CAUGHT THEMSELVES REPEATING
ANNIE ANNIE ANNIE

WHAT WAS ANNIE REALLY LIKE
I THOUGHT

IT HAD GROWN DARK
THE SUN WAS COLD
AND SLOWLY SETTING

WHAT WAS ANNIE REALLY LIKE
I THOUGHT

I PLUCKED A ROSE
FROM OFF THE BUSH
AND SLOWLY WALKED THE HILLSIDE DOWN
CRADLING IT IN MY HAND



FRANK A VOLLMER