Questions Silenced By Stones


©Margaret Bednar



Weathered, cracked, and broken,
they stand with marble etchings
facing the sunrise.

I wandered among the gravestones
reading epitaphs, birthdates, death.
The chiseled hyphens stirred so many questions.

The stones were silent.


©Susie Clevenger 2012

Kerry Challenged us to write a Sevenling poem



Comments

Kerry O'Connor said…
This gave me chills as I read - you extracted such a pensive mood from the stones themselves.
Fireblossom said…
Yes, they always do seem to be that way, but our thoughts about them are not.
Sherry Blue Sky said…
"the stones were silent"......beautiful sevenling, kiddo.
Grace said…
I like the contrast of questions and silent stones ~ Nice sevenling ~
hedgewitch said…
'The chiselled hyphens slurred so many questions..' really a standout line, so much summed up in those bare figure--great take on the prompt, Susie.
Janine Bollée said…
Know what? I forgot the form, reading this. That is the ultimate accolade.
Janine Bollée said…
So competent and complete. A miniature with delicate observations. And yes, if the stones could talk...
Susan said…
yes, hyphens raise questions un-answered . . .
Those hyphens sure hide a lot of the story of someone's life, don't they? Gorgeous writing!
Maude Lynn said…
The line about the hyphens is just brilliant. This is really excellent.
kaykuala said…
The stones kept their secrets to themselves. Nicely Susie!

Hank
Margaret said…
I try so hard to read the chisels ... and sometimes that is all they are as time has made them unreadable - they don't "speak" anymore.
Unknown said…
The stones , they are a mute witness to our despair..
Mary said…
Very nice....and the stones are always silent, aren't they? A powerful ending.
Hannah said…
I just love walking amid the stones...reading each meaningful name. Beautiful thoughts, Susie.
Other Mary said…
Oh, what a great ending. Yes, it's all contained in those hyphens!
Marian said…
hmmm, pretty. i walk there.
Helen said…
Cemeteries are mysterious ... resurrecting all sorts of emotions ... great fodder for poetry.

Your sevenling is amazing.
Ella said…
This took me to the graveyard-
The energy of the dead and the wonder of who many were...
This is hauntingly brilliant!

Wow, chiseled hyphens-love it!
Ella said…
I agree this had a chill to it!
In a great way!
I looove the line
chiseled hyphens, so clever!
I really enjoyed this poem :D
Anonymous said…
Your jump to the last line is inspired.