GRAVEYARD

I amble slowly along until I reach the grave

of my mother and father.

My eyes linger on each letter of their names

carved into the marble headstone.

I bow my head in silent prayer,

and then I stand for several minutes,

recalling a few fond memories of family life.

So many years have passed,

but I still remember those happy times

from my childhood and my teenage years.

I gently touch the headstone and then move on.

A little further along are the graves

of aunts and uncles.

A whole generation now gone.

Many of my cousins are elderly now.

Time hurries on and we are all destined

to fade away.

No special favours given.

A few of the headstones here have been damaged.

It looks like vandalism to me.

The headstone of the brother of an old friend

lies there on the ground,

completely broken off at the base.

The sight saddens me enormously. 

I keep on moving, to the far side of the graveyard,

where my maternal grandparents are buried.

Their grave is now sunken, and the headstone

stands at a crazy angle.

I sadly say to myself

when my generation has passed on

no-one will visit this grave

and the names will not mean anything to anyone.

The wind is picking up now,

and the sky looks almost ready to rain.

Time to head home.

Chicken casserole for dinner.

-~*~-

RH

-~*~-