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
Real Toads The Sunday Mini-Challenge



Comments

Kerry O'Connor said…
This gave me chills as I read - you extracted such a pensive mood from the stones themselves.
September 23, 2012 at 11:22 AM
Fireblossom said…
Yes, they always do seem to be that way, but our thoughts about them are not.
September 23, 2012 at 11:46 AM
Sherry Blue Sky said…
"the stones were silent"......beautiful sevenling, kiddo.
September 23, 2012 at 12:48 PM
Grace said…
I like the contrast of questions and silent stones ~ Nice sevenling ~
September 23, 2012 at 2:06 PM
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.
September 23, 2012 at 2:20 PM
Janine Bollée said…
Know what? I forgot the form, reading this. That is the ultimate accolade.
September 23, 2012 at 2:39 PM
Janine Bollée said…
So competent and complete. A miniature with delicate observations. And yes, if the stones could talk...
September 23, 2012 at 2:50 PM
Susan said…
yes, hyphens raise questions un-answered . . .
September 23, 2012 at 7:39 PM
Mary B. Mansfield said…
Those hyphens sure hide a lot of the story of someone's life, don't they? Gorgeous writing!
September 23, 2012 at 8:04 PM
Maude Lynn said…
The line about the hyphens is just brilliant. This is really excellent.
September 23, 2012 at 8:25 PM
kaykuala said…
The stones kept their secrets to themselves. Nicely Susie!

Hank
September 23, 2012 at 10:16 PM
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.
September 23, 2012 at 10:36 PM
Unknown said…
The stones , they are a mute witness to our despair..
September 24, 2012 at 12:15 AM
Mary said…
Very nice....and the stones are always silent, aren't they? A powerful ending.
September 24, 2012 at 6:38 AM
Hannah said…
I just love walking amid the stones...reading each meaningful name. Beautiful thoughts, Susie.
September 24, 2012 at 12:45 PM
Other Mary said…
Oh, what a great ending. Yes, it's all contained in those hyphens!
September 24, 2012 at 1:58 PM
Marian said…
hmmm, pretty. i walk there.
September 24, 2012 at 8:45 PM
Helen said…
Cemeteries are mysterious ... resurrecting all sorts of emotions ... great fodder for poetry.

Your sevenling is amazing.
September 24, 2012 at 8:52 PM
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!
September 25, 2012 at 8:51 AM
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
September 26, 2012 at 7:21 AM
Anonymous said…
Your jump to the last line is inspired.
September 26, 2012 at 5:56 PM
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