The City of Stone

I breathe a sense of place
here carved in halls of
cool granite and marble
singing in the hollows of history

husked from the earth
in centuries past by calloused hands,
strong backs bent before
the keeper of time

noticed the wear and tear
and stopped the chiming of the clock;
implacable stone sits silently
in smooth splendor watching

the denizens oblivious
of the edifices that
protect them from the wind
and offer warmth within,

their stories lost in the memories
of men who lie quietly beneath
their own stones, their truth
buried deep and dark

and still I cannot pull my eyes
away from the perfection gabled
steepled and arched enveloping me
in sweeping streetscape vistas.

Reviews

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

What beautiful language and imagery here...wow... I'm truly impressed with the style and the flow of this piece, and the way that you have tackled your concept.

their stories lost in the memories
of men who lie quietly beneath
their own stones, their truth
buried deep and dark -- great lines...

[icelandicblue]

Thank you Sarah. I am pleased that you liked the style of this piece.

[Lina Grey]

this is impressive. so beautiful and flowing. the imagery is fantastic. love it :)

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so very much for taking the time to read and comment! Nice to meet you.

[Lina Grey]

you're welcome! Nice to meet you, too :)

[icelandicblue]

I will be sure to return the favor. ; )

[Lydia Shutter]

Old architecture is fascinating. You have captured its charm with your words. Splendid imagery. Who built these buildings....with none of the machines available to contractors today....and how long they toiled is a lot to ponder. Wonderful poetry. Lydi**

[icelandicblue]

Yes, exactly the buildings remain but all the laborers are gone. Thank you so much.

[Shivam Murari]

Imagery is fabulous. You just make the reader imagine the scene so well. Poetic devices are so well used. Patter is fine! Over all, fantastic!

[icelandicblue]

Hi Shivam,

Thanks for such a nice review!

[TL Boehm]

This is beautiful and rich with atmosphere. There is something about old places - a resonance and you have captured it so well in this piece. It breathes.

[icelandicblue]

Ah thanks so much TL. Good to see you.

[Frieda P]

Eerie and beautiful, flashes of my family's little village in Italy comes to mind, entirely built of stone and the Mausoleums are quite impressive and pristine....great read Anne!

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much Frieda.

[Great Aunt Astri]

Your words build up a vivid picture and I get a sense of the peace and timelessness of it all. Enjoyed your poem

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so very much!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, a BR said...an old cemetery with much history...or some ancient burial grounds...and those who watch over them, protect them, keep them beautiful for those who lay under the earth.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks Jacob. As I said to BR, I've always been fascinated by old cemeteries. My grandfather is buried in a cemetery where he helped to build the stone wall that surrounds it as part of a WPA project. That stone wall resonates with me.