Home » Poems » John Lawless » Tarnished Stones

Tarnished Stones

A creosote frown mars
the stony landscape.
Time’s sundial remnant
a tilting chimney shadow
circling a homestead memory.

The foundation survives
the dream remains
tangled in ivied struggle
longing for the sound of footsteps
the creak of long silenced boards.

Uprooted stones, thrown together
solidly different
yet settling ever slowly
into a new place
bonding in a shared need.

Alone now
tarnished stones
pay silent homage
mark the passage
of timeless generations.



©8/8/2021

August 2021 NA'S Poetry Contest
Date judged 8/14/2021

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Laura Leiser

Date: 8/8/2021 7:52:00 PM

I love the layered meaning of life in the various stone imagery, John. Such an interesting take on the theme. Loved this! :)

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 8/8/2021 11:46:00 AM

I think of the many places worn or being torn down and it feels like they still have the ghost of memories or a soul about them. Until centuries pass. All who recalled them are gone and there is no semblance of them remaining. This one made me just think a lot!!

John Lawless
Date: 8/8/2021 2:46:00 PM

Andrea, it is my belief that the most important thing a poem or poet can do is to make the reader think...a lot. Thank you for your continuing support