The Garden Of Tears

He practiced disdain for mankind. Never giving himself to another. Closed away his heart and mind.

 

Near the road a cemetery bloomed

in the ancient noon day light

An old man stood to his task

of tending graves each night

 

He had spent his youth working

too afraid to spend emotion

Took all he could from everyone

but gave no love to the devotion

 

Romance was not his forte

he practiced disdain for mankind

Hardly giving love to another

closed away his heart and mind

 

Thinking life to be a race

he had pushed his way along

Took from the world no pleasure

he whistled but heard no song

 

Now retired and long lived

he thought himself to be paid

To have outlived all the others

was reward for plans he'd made

 

As he looked to stones he tended

for all those he'd known in life

An old dream ached in his chest

for words written to his wife

 

She had once been his true love

the only one he had known

Lost to another in his youth

he was aged, but never grown

 

Now his tears water her grave

stones of family, oh so few

The dreams of lost love fading

wonders of life he never knew

 

Called to rest some time ago

he lies cold among his peers

A shadow on winter's night

walks the graveyard of his tears

 

 

Author's Note

What is a life for? If we cower from truly living are the extra years truly living?

Reviews

[Nancy Lee Shrader]

When a poem takes a third win, we know it is something to library. Congrats on win number 3. Great Poem Tate.

[Nancy Lee Shrader]

So well written. Congrats once again on this winning poem.

[Naomi Montana Walsh]

Such a haunting tale and for some all too real.. the regrets ..realizing too late..and suddenly what seemed so hard to grapse ..now hard to forget..great writeing Tate.

[Sean Allen]

The stuff of inspiration my friend. I thought of Dickins and Diamond as I read this... That's pretty good company!

[harman kour]

very emotional n touching... loved the way this story has been narrated... Cheers :)

[R J Askew]

Ach, that's me, misanthropic and apart from my fellow men. My mind rules and my heart has little if any voice. Of course an intellectual wld not find anything sad in being like this, just smile wryly. You captured my nature perfectly here!

[Dave "Doc" Rogers]

I liked the opening line "Near the road a cemetery bloomed"

This was a good bit of story telling and that is a good thing. Nice storycrafting.

Doc.

[The Analog Kid]

It was a kind of dream like picture to me. Very deep emotions flow. Profound sadness. Nice Tatt.

[N.E.T.]

This is just beautiful... I love the way it tells a story, and is not too wordy yet says enough to provoke such intense emotion. I love how it builds and becomes so very heavy and raw, and certainly draws you in. So lovely... I really am moved by this piece.

[vandana]

It's absolutely a fascinating tale of love. Enjoyed reading it.