I've always said I have your hands

Such a poignant picture you paint here, Shirley. The imagery of the grass, etc. works extremely well.

The third stanza is of course, the telling one... only you don't tell, you show, which is so much more effective:-

"We had to count the rows
to find the place..."

Our local church and its tiny cemetry so very reminiscent of the essence of this poem.

Tina

I like this a lot. It speaks I think, to anyone who has visited a graveside, and perhaps, like me, wondered why it seems so necessary to pull the weeds away and read again the inscription.

To pinch Tina's word - poignant. Particularly liked the last verse.

David xx

I also particularly like the last verse, but it all works so well to paint a vivid and sad story which many can relate. I am always so happy when I see wild flowers growing along some graves, which would otherwise be just grass, long grass as Kropotkin38 said, I also feel needs to be pulled away to read the inscriptions.

Beeme xx

Very beautiful and nicely balanced, making each word count. The 'tearing at the past' image is particularly moving.

Thank you Kropotin38, they all have a tale don't they?
especially the old long forgotten ones,

My thanks to you David, as always :~}

xx

Beeme, wild flowers or indeed long grass is to me, preferable to the "tennis court" look of some of the modern grave yards, where you don't know where you're walking, or on whom! thanks for your lovely comment,

Thank you rjnewlyn, Pleased you like this,

Thanks Tina, I based this on a day over 20 years ago, it seems to mean more to me now than it did then, the ignorance of youth!

& wipe the moss off the angel, stirring up a happy memoriy, thank-you shoe. Kahdai xx

Wow, this is powerful. A beautiful, poignant and honest poem. Just amazing.

Nathan.

Thanks kahdai, your comment made me smile, you are most welcome, xx

Nathan, Thank you for your encouraging words, it pleases me a lot that it made you feel something,

Shirley, :~}

:~} ^^ xx