Sunken grave

What’s sadder than a grave,
But a sunken grave?
Than one that’s nameless,
Unmarked, or even defaced
By time and space?
I walk by the cemetery;
The earth is eating
Etchings and photos
carved in stone
Of lovers, actors,
Juris Doctors, poets
Even war heroes of old,
whose stories now go untold;
Human funerals
are only the first;
After 100 years,
Mother Earth has hers.

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

I have to agree about the sadness of sunken graves or any forgotten grave for that matter. This poem evoked feelings I had when visiting Highgate cemetery for the first time. You have to book in advance to go. It's an old Victorian cemetery and is an amazing place. There I saw graves completely overgrown with ivy. Nature reclaiming what was once hers. Thanks Maxwell, your poem brought some memories back. Good to see a post from you. Hope all is OK with you and yours.

Chris

[Maxwell Ryder]

Sounds so cool. I would love that. Worth it to sign up. Just hope it’s a pretty day. Is it leafy there?

[Chris Shaw]

Very leafy and overgrown. Amazing place.

[Coyote Poetry]

Once when my division went to Africa. Whole city was dead from sickness and hunger. No-one claimed the bodies. We put the poor souls into mass graves. I understand your words. Us, soldiers , we pray for people, who had no-one to pray for them. Powerful and worthwhile words shared my friend.
Coyote

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I have to say i dislike pristine, clipped regimented grave yards. Overgrown does not always mean forgotton, besides we are all forgotton eventually. A thought provoking piece.

[Maxwell Ryder]

John, I can't say you are wrong about that either. Just miss those stories that disappear with the graves. Nothing lasts. Thanks for the compliment.

[Einstein Noodle]

i love Cemeteries ...they are serene, quiet places for the most part ... i think sometimes spirits linger there a bit ... graphic image in the "..sunken grave" ... very emotive of forgotten, neglected and kind of lost .. your twist in closing hits home says i .... Mother Earth swallow all in time ... so be it eh!? ;) thanks for sharing "Sunken Grave"
E.

[Maxwell Ryder]

I love the stories they tell, Einstein. I agree. That’s why it’s so sad to see one fading into dereliction. Ones like Pere Lechaise (sp.) in Paris are so neat, for example.

[Einstein Noodle]

there is an old small cemetery along the creek about a mile down the "holler" out back of our cabin ..there are about 20 markers ... many are small without markings (most likely infant deaths .. and others are civil war veterans ... it is probably a family plot from those early homesteaders ...no one cares for it but we clean it up a bit when we visit ... must look up the Pere Lechaise .... love on ya Maxwell!

[Einstein Noodle]

wow...incredible architecture and expression in the mausoleums and markers ... was everyone buried above ground? the St. Louise in New Orleans is like that due to a very high water table... https://www.google.com/search?q=St.+Louis+Cemetery&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwinnofNgPDhAhWLDHwKHcPPDWQQ_AUIDygC&biw=1920&bih=937

[Maxwell Ryder]

yes, i think it is definitely a common theme with the French. But they also hav ethe catacombs as you know, so it seems to be a bit of classism going on there. Above ground "burial" is equated to moneyed classes and dirt is peasantry? Nah, but I just like to think that way.

[Einstein Noodle]

:) well ... it dust we must return to no matter eh!? love your poem!

[John the Baptist]

In light of climate change, the last two lines are chilling.

[Maxwell Ryder]

THANK YOU John!