The tall waving grasses are always green
in this blessed and hallowed place.
Tombstones crumble, long passed souls embrace
‘neath palmetto fronds, while angels pray unseen.
And one lone cherub, an alabaster figurine
guards still the lad beneath her, quiet in grace.
The tall waving grasses are always green
in this blessed and hallowed place.
The sea nearby crashes waves of aquamarine,
spews salted grits of sand through air to stone efface.
Sacred words, names and years, all but erased
yet bones and dust beneath, feed this earth serene
the tall waving grasses are always green.
Gayle, in dVerse, asked us to create a Rondel: 3 verses (2 quatrains and a quintet). It must have a refrain: Lines 1 & 2 are repeated in lines 7 & 8; and line 1 must also be line 13. The rhyme scheme must be ABBA ABthen-line-1-and-line-2 ABBAthen-line-1. The challenge is to have the form “disappear” within the meaning of the poem. Photos: from our walk yesterday which included meandering through St. Peter’s cemetery, established in 1854, located atop a hill in St. George’s Bermuda.
lillian the home poet 
I love the contrast of the serenity of figurine & tombstones with the sea nearby crashes waves of aquamarine ~
What a beautiful place with the green grasses ~ Enjoy your stay Lillian and thanks for joining us ~
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Thank you, Grace. The water color here is truly breathtaking!
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Sounds like paradise! Enjoy!
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It is beautiful.
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Such a delight!!
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Thank you!
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“And one lone cherub, an alabaster figurine
guards still the lad beneath her, quiet in grace.” beautiful line, beautiful poem, it reminds me of an elegy.
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Yes, I hadn’t thought of that but it does indeed. So very happy you enjoyed.
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You’re welcome 🙂
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I like how you are using your travels (and your photos) to inspire your writing, Lilian. Your rondel gives us the idea of the peace and serenity that can be found in an old cemetery. The detail about the grass being always green shows the contrast between life and death!
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Thank you for the read, May — and your very insightful words here. Much appreciated. Yes, the idea was to create the “layers of life” within the age old places of death.
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the first line standing like a pillar is so much comforting….a beautiful Rondel…
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I fell in love with this little angel statue in this very old cemetery…..I did find her comforting and imagined her comforting the lad below her as well as those who came to mourn so very long ago.
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Oh I like the thought of a place like that.. For me it sounds like the perfect place to stay. You are so fortunate the be there.
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It is indeed beautiful here —- and this very old cemetery such a peaceful place of rest.
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Vividly recreated. Beautiful.
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Thank you, Rosemary! Your kind words are truly appreciated.
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What a gorgeous scene you paint, Lillian. I feel as though I am there…
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Thank you! It is truly a restful and hallowed place.
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There is a sense of the sacred in this poem, as in so many cemeteries. The scene you paint is quite beautiful and the form just adds to that.
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Thank you, Victoria. The form was daunting — I am learning so much with dVerse! 🙂 Glad you liked it.
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Your photos illustrate your poem beautifully, Lillian. I think your surroundings are acting as inspiration to your writings. :~) You did a wonderful job as I knew you would. It sounds like a peaceful place to be laid to rest and I love the contrast of the crashing waves nearby.
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Bermuda is a wonderful muse! 🙂 Especially early mornings. The internet connection is a bit tough — but all in good time 🙂 Thank you for the kind words.
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Sacred CeMetery
mesSAge..
alWays
liVe
noW..:)
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Thank you, as always, Katie.
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SMiLes.. My friend..:)
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