"Across our childhood’s street we trod on carpet lawn and holy sod. We walked along where some had prayed. Where once we played, he now is laid." From my poem "Where Once We Played"
There’s an old, large graveyard in my home town.
We would not go there if chill winds would wail.
In summer though its rows we would walk down.
It’s also where we buried dear, young Dale.
My brother Dale and I would ride bikes where
we'd see tombstones from many years ago.
I never dreamed so soon he'd be put there
one winter day as down from sky fell snow.
We’ve all moved on, and no one is around
where bones of Dale have lain for forty years
since he was placed into that cold, hard ground
and we stood there – our faces wet with tears.
Deep in Greenwood Cemetery, no hole
holds him, for in heaven resides his soul.
a strange sort of flow
comes with thoughts of long ago
spews a welcome glow
nostalgia may just soothe
when mixed with lies and half-truths
Hitler and his ilk
less troublesome than spilled milk
like Wendell Wilkes
slavery a slight bother
endorsed by founding fathers
a happy nation
few trials or tribulations
add more misinformation
ignore racial injustice
force the children to trust us
all Greenwood flattened
pretend it never happened
let's not be saddened
forget all those starved and bruised
that story is over used
no big mystery
we’ll sugar coat history
practice sophistry
let's deny the Holocaust
past transgressions should be lost
need new set of rules
ensure what is taught in school
makes nation look good
our kids do not need to know
repeating the past brings woe
The Greenwood - Villanelle
Under the ancient greenwood’s leafy shade,
Beneath the hornbeam and the spreading oak
Where moonglow shines into the sylvan glade
From the Elven harps magic chords cascade.
Harebells ring at exactly midnight’s stroke
Under the ancient greenwood’s leafy shade.
Fairy wings flicker as each note is played,
Ancient Songs the gossamer strings evoke.
Where moonglow shines into the sylvan glade,
Pixies in green cloaks from toadstool skins made
Dwell with happy and content forest folk,
Under the ancient greenwood’s leafy shade.
Rows of acorn shell drinking cups displayed,
Tree Sprites supping dew-drop wine laugh and joke
Where moonglow shines into the sylvan glade.
In light breezes, scents of wild herbs pervade,
Fires emitting chestnut scented smoke
Under the ancient greenwood’s leafy shade
Where moonglow shines into the sylvan glade
01/20/2019
Surrounded by verdancy, we have come from afar to visit you, dear Dale.
I notice few changes although this place now has a slightly more modern look.
I recall those summer days as preteens when we rode our bicycles along
all the small winding dirt roads here in the cooling breeze of summer’s humidity.
How we would race to the back part of this vast green area to show our friends
the angel which appeared blue through a mausoleum's stained glass window.
Suddenly on the edge of the tree line, baby deer and their mother approach us!
Birds and squirrels we had seen here in our youth, but never deer before!
One buck hangs far back from the graves, head raised to a tree's bright bough.
I imagine you, Dale, not close beside us any more, but watching us from heaven.
Sept. 28, 2018 for Silent One's
Lines Of Ten That Remind You What It Was Like Back Then Poetry Contest
In the Greenwood cemetery
where we strolled as children
all those summer nights so long ago,
I stop to lay some flowers
on the grave they laid you in
before your chance to ever really bloom.
Under the greenwood
tree,under the coolest
shadow,whose love
with me stay..who want
to kiss me there?
Where a tune of sweet
merry Where
birds chirping and
singing,
Waiting they we want to
sing: Only you i
want to
see;
Come to show your how
much,Love or what to
think? Love to
live in the sun,Seeking
my food i eat.
Under the greenwood
tree,under the coolest
shadow,whose love
with me stay..who want
to kiss me there?
Where a tune of sweet
merry Where
birds chirping and
singing,
Waiting they we want to
sing: Only you i
want to
see;
Come to show your how
much,Love or what to
think? Love to
live in the sun,Seeking
my food i eat.
Under
the
greenwood
tree,under
the
coolest
shadow,whose
love
with
me
stay..who
want
to
kiss
me
there?
Where
a
tune
of
sweet
merry
Where
birds
chirping
and
singing,
Waiting
they
we
want
to
sing:
Only
you
i
want
to
see;
Come
to
show
your
how
much,Love
or
what
to
think?
Love
to
live
in
the
sun,Seeking
my
food
i
eat.
As I walk slowly through the quiet wood
I feel the need to kneel and say a prayer.
The sacredness of trees is understood
For symbol and its meaning coalesce here
The canopy on high is bathed in sun
and birdsong is so lovely to my ears.
The noise of city traffic I now shun
And natural meditation calms my fears.
The trees were bare and elegant last week
Today the leaves have opened sweet and green
I hope no thunderstorm will wreak
It’s havoc on the newborn world I 've seen.
For nothing on this earth will last for long
So commemorate sweet Spring with a new song
On common land,within the wood
Eking a living as best they could,
Betwixt Roundhead & Cavalier,they stood-
These children of the new forest
Adventures filled ,with youthful zest.
(Frederick Marryat-Children of the New Forest)
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