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The Graves By the Roadside

I can't get this poem to form. So just placing it here anyway. I found a graveyard with only the steps remaining of the church at the side of a busy road, with derelict car showrooms neighbouring the site. Some of the graves looked well maintained despite them being extremely old. When I researched it afterwards I found that the area (close to the city centre) had once been a wealthy neighborhood and extremely prestigious people were buried there. Knighted physicians, famous chemists, barons... As the rich people moved out to suburbs, cheap housing was built and later demolished as slums. I checked burial records and found such a high proportion of childhood deaths (typical for 1800s), it was heart breaking to think that it would be covered over if not for the few famous men that were buried there. It's such a weird site, just a cross made of the steel from the church (I believe), the churches steps and an arch to enter. Judging by the numbers of graves listed and the size of the church in photos (seating 1700), this plot is just a fraction and likely just the graves of the wealthy few. The mansions still stand, though the slums have been cleared See the wealthy's head stones, whilst signs of the poor disappeared The last person laid to rest 91 years ago Though if not for the men of note, no one would know For nearly 100 years mourners came To lay flowers at grand graves or those with no name Children played hide and seek amongst the stones Unconcerned that below ground lay hundreds of bones Disproportionate numbers of young to old Sign of the times and povertys hold A grave yard with no church, out of place Several graves of worthy souls not erased Resting in peace are the rich and the poor With no flowers or loved ones left to mourn any more

Copyright © | Year Posted 2023




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Date: 5/10/2023 3:12:00 PM
looks like you found that poem:) Rather sad actually. The poor are forgotten and the wealthy left behind. I suppose thats how society works. The meaninglesss lives of the average man and all. A pleasure to read your poem today DD. Nice job!
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Da11y Avatar
Di11y Da11y
Date: 5/10/2023 10:20:00 PM
Thanks Daniel, it doesn't flow in quite the way I'd like but it was so interesting as a place I wanted to share anyway. Thanks for your kind words
Date: 5/10/2023 11:29:00 AM
Hello Dilly Dally, I find this poem very interesting. I felt like I was there in the past looking at this site. So because I felt i was there while reading this poem. It will be my fav. enjoy your day my friend. /Darlene\
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De Beaulieu Avatar
Darlene De Beaulieu
Date: 5/11/2023 11:50:00 AM
Hello Dilly Dally, yes it is easy to get absorbed in a idea like that. Yo can still look around. Enjoy your day my friend. /Darlene\
Da11y Avatar
Di11y Da11y
Date: 5/10/2023 11:54:00 AM
Thanks Darlene, I got very absorbed looking at photographs of old streets, going through burial lists etc. Quite fascinating. I wish I'd took more time to look around now.

Book: Reflection on the Important Things