Brick and mortar secrets
hold together walls
of crumbling orange.
Opulence now decayed
into black molded memories
weeps in the cold light
of shattered stained glass eyes.
The brittle bones of grandeur
are broken by junk dealers
seeking rusty treasures
to sit as conversation pieces
on faux wood shelves.
A black and white document
more obituary than declaration
of legal intent is nailed
to a carved oaken door.
It reads, This property is condemned
and scheduled for demolition.
In the courtyard a stone cherub
sits in stoic silence
as history is raped by progress.
A mansion once built
to add grace and beauty
to a growing city now lies
an obstacle to be removed.
It sits on real estate needed
to build a towered parking lot.
©Susie Clevenger 2012
Photograph: Isadora Gruye
Comments
are broken by junk dealers
seeking rusty treasures
to sit as conversation pieces"
These are powerful words.
... I have visited historic Charleston numerous times and Savannah once. Savannah now regrets demolishing a few of their old houses. Charleston was really too poor to do such a thing... one time when poverty wasn't such a bad thing as the architecture is amazing.