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

[Star Wolf]

Sadness and regret. Two really awful feelings. The picture enhances your words.

[Havatara]

Again, absolutely wonderful. It really showed clearly that you have to enjoy life while you can. Thank you for sending me the read request for it.

[Holly-Marie]

This was so sad. Wonderful, though. I could picture everything perfectly as I read. Him realising he regretted things when it was too late. So sad...

[Helen Crutchett]

Tate, this was a truly outstanding write. I count this amongst the best of your poetry. But then again all our poems are superb, talented poet that you are!
I admire how you can collect your feelings and pour them onto the page in great style. Bravo sir!

[MagiCrystal]

Now his tears water her grave

stones of family she had grew

The dreams of lost love fading

wonders of the life he never knew

___________________________



Called to rest quite some time ago

he lies cold among his peers

A shadow on winters night

walks the graveyard of his tears

Again you strike back again ..and me!! .. I am left with tears as always..
this is a poem.. made in Heaven !!!
.. and for me to read it is an Honor.
I say.. Life has magic.. but when I have walked in the Garden of Life
I show so much respect.. I know they are not here, and there..They are inside our souls.. and we carried them.. in the blood..
I know this is a painful life and to say good bye.. no
There's no good bye.. and there will never be...not in this life
One more time.. you have touched me so deeply and make me cry..
What is it about you?
damn

[Coyote Poetry]

Such sadness and beauty in your words. Thank you. Photo made your words come alive.
Coyote

[Ebb and Flow]

This piece is so full of pain and sorrow and a sadness for that lost love. There's also tenderness and warmth in the tending of the stones. To have lost love and loved ones but not forget them.

[Salvatore Buttaci]

First of all, it is an excellent poem. The only suggestion I would make is that you don't use end-line punctuation. As you have used it, in places it is not correct and detracts from your outstanding poem.

[Kaylee Andurs]

This is so sad, so full of regret. Too bad that he never discovered it until the end of his life.