Trips to the Cemetery

Memories

Mom took my brother and
me to the cemetery when
we were kids.
Her mother and grandma
were there underneath the
grass and dirt.
The spring breeze felt
good on my face.
We put carnations and
lilacs on all the graves.
She told us stories about
our dead relatives.
The tombstones, with the
dates seemed ancient and
final.

After flowering all the
graves, we went to
the pond and fed
the ducks and swans.
There was a fire in
their eyes.
They were always
hungry.
They gobbled the bread
and swam in circles.

When we became
teenagers, Mom took
us to the cemetery, and
taught us how to drive.
She said it was
safer there.
We couldn't kill
anyone.

Many years later
I took my little sons to
cemetery.
I showed them all
the graves and told
the old family stories.
"That's your grandma,"  I said,
pointing to the tombstone.
"She brought me here,
when I was your age."

My oldest son, Zach, who was
seven at the time said,
"When I get old,
I'm going to bring my kids
here to visit the family.
Will you come with us, Daddy?"
"Sure", I said.
Let's feed the swans.

Author's Note

Check out my you tube channel where I read my poetry from my recent book, Seedy Town Blues Collected Poems, available on Amazon.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0-hHZ6O8u0

Reviews

[John the Baptist]

Cemeteries mean different things to us at different times of life. Three such times appear in this work. In the last verse, one of the children says he will bring his children to the cemetery when he is old and asks the speaker if he will accompany them. The speaker, knowing he will probably be long gone by then, changes the subject. No need to spoil a good visit to the cemetery.

[Thomas W Case]

Yes, Thank you John for the read and comment.

[Amanda Reynolds]

Wow! your writing sums up how I feel I feel like about going to the the cemetery with my almost 80 year mom,, she loves it there as she gets to tell and retell stories... My many siblings don't get it, so refreshing that you do and so beautifully put. Thank you!

[Thomas W Case]

Yes. Our time is so short. We must cherish it. Thank you for reading and commenting. I appreciate it.

[Coyote Poetry]

My grandparent did the same. We would clean the graves too. I tried to teach my grandchildren to remember the old people. Who taught us how to live. Thank you Thomas for sharing the memories and amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you so much. i appreciate the comment.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I love this piece,Thomas.
Cemeteries are always thought of as such creepy places and yet they really aren't. They are safe places...we not only mourn loved ones...but we appreciate what they were in life...we can celebrate them and we also can find safety there...I love the idea of her teaching you to drive there because you could not kill anyone.
j.

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you. Much appreciated.

[Pete]

heartwarming for sure. this is the important stuff of life but we don't realize it at the time - such things stay with us. love how you integrated the swans into it. very cool read, much enjoyed.

ps - "brother and i" should be brother and me for proper grammar.

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you. I appreciate that.

[Pete]

........👍

[JD Major]

A poignant storied poem, I enjoyed it.
Living life, and visits to the final destination.

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[Poetic Beauty]

Cemetery aren’t always sad. They have a final beauty to them although I do wish the tombstones came in bright colors.

The feeding of the swans sounds like a good way to end the visit to the cemetery. I shall be honest; I don’t visit cemeteries to see loved ones graves. It for me is disheartening and somber. I know my grandma and grandpa aren’t there. That is why I want to be cremated. I have moved onto the next plane and I don’t want anyone to have to take care of a headstone once I depart this earth.

[Thomas W Case]

Yes, that makes sense. Thanks for commenting.

[Poetic Beauty]

You are welcome

[Stella Armour]

Aww bless what a lovely thing for the child to say....
Cemeteries are not so much used now and yet they are a place for social and family history.
I love how you followed the visit by taking him to see the swans just as yoiu had been taken.
lots of lovely nostalgia in this one Thomas ..

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, Stella, I appreciate it.

[Stella Armour]

A lovely write, much enjoyed :)

[DIVYA]

You have such a pithy sense of humor here, dear Thomas. Narrated beautifully with a fabulous punch at the end. Touching and so sweet. I loved it!

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

[red93]

Fabulous Thomas. Wistful, poignant but kinda reassuring. 'In the midst of Life, we are in Death'. Excellent ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Thomas W Case]

So true. Thanks for the read and comment.