Unnamed Early 20th Century Burial in St Matthew’s Episcopal Church Cemetery Hillsborough, NC (2020) A small grave marked “Unnamed” Without date or acclaim, Past century’s mystery, Performs a ministry Of grace in this churchyard. This modest slab set hard Against the worst weather, Something meant forever, Became grief’s darkest gift. A still birth swiftly shifts Love from cradle to grave. Was this small life unsaved, Unbaptized and not named? So pure life was reclaimed Before life could begin, Before the curse of sin. Yet love with that life stayed. Where roots have made a braid, A resurrection fern Each rain, in green, returns. Paul Jones Paul Jones’ poetry has been published in Poetry, Red Fez, Unblocked, and in anthologies including Best American Erotic Poems (1800 - Present). Recently, he was nominated for two Pushcart Prizes and two Best of the Web Awards. His chapbook is What the Welsh and Chinese Have in Common. A manuscript of his poems crashed on the moon in summer 2019 carried by the Beresheet Lander.
8 Comments
JENNY BATES
9/8/2020 09:05:32 am
...grief's darkest gift...
Reply
Carole Mertz
9/8/2020 11:13:35 am
There is pain and such beauty here. The imagery of your last four lines will stay with me. I am grandmother of a lost child.
Reply
Robert Fruehwirth
9/8/2020 12:09:52 pm
"Something meant forever," This is powerful.
Reply
Robin Sheedy
9/9/2020 11:20:28 am
I'm so glad you wrote about that marker. Evocative.
Reply
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
The Ekphrastic Review
COOKIES/PRIVACY
This site uses cookies. Continuing here means you consent. Thank you. Join us: Facebook and Bluesky
February 2025
|