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Friday, February 19, 2010

In a graveyard

In a graveyard. 6s. (February 12, 2010)

1. Gone but not forgotten
Engraved upon the stone
But the stone was broken
And lying all alone.
2. Who here beneath the ground
Sleeps in this silent tomb?
And shall we, too, be found
In such a lonesome doom?
3. Gone and soon forgotten
As mem'ries fade away
Time goes on a-marching
And night replaces day.
4. Lying, unremembered--
Yes, O, how sad to see!
Nay, how glad unnumbered,
If God remember thee!!


On a snowy day a week ago, perhaps I was thinking gloomy thoughts. In this little poem I tried to capture the feeling I once had walking through a graveyard and seeing an old dilapidated stone bearing the testimony "Gone but not forgotten." How incongruous! How depressing! It made an impression on me. I bought some epoxy and put the stone back together.

But, in perspective, it is only sad in nature's realm. In the last verse I try to set aside the human emotion to remember what is of true and lasting spiritual worth.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

After reading this I am reminded of a sad occurence which is becoming more prevelent. It is that of family members who neglect their loved ones graves. Some to the point of not even putting up a tombstone for years, or sometimes never. How unthankful can someone be? The person and or persons who neglect this probably owed much to the loved one lying in the grave.

It seems that snow will conjure up many images. At once it can bring a warm and quaint feeling, while on the other hand it can bring a rather lonesome feeling. But one thing all snows have in common. What always happens after a snow? There will come bright sunshine and warmer temperatures. We can experience a renewal in the physical realm and equate it with a spiritual renewal of the soul.