Long Forgotten

Living on the built up edge
of historic Epping Forest,
hacked down to size for Metrolanders,
I tread where mighty oaks once stood,
where animals followed ancient trails,
commoners respected trees,
cut only branches for firewood,
kept livestock with freedom to roam.
 

There's a Hunting Lodge,
a listed building, visitors can
ogle its Tudor timber frame,
think of Henry and Elizabeth,
the pleasure they took from
chasing deer, killing them
for relaxation, respite from
the toil of burning and beheading,
their victims no longer mourned.
 

The depressed man who scaled

a tall chimney in Carlisle,
a listed building, and died
in pain last week hanging
upside down from the ladder,
what value does his life have

when those who mourn him

forget to mourn him?
 

There are carved names
on splendid memorials
and bewreathed cenotaphs,
are these Glorious Dead
being mourned if we only
bow our heads in silence?
 

It's the least we can do

for the long forgotten,
or the most, you say.
.

Reviews

[Curtis.Lenker]

Very powerful work here. Very vivid and imagery is great.

[Gerald Parker]

Thank you for commenting, The Awesome One. Pleased you liked it.