In Loving Memory

Cherry

By luigi_pagano

Sat, 02 Nov 2019
  • 1655 reads
6 comments
 
He sells flowers for the dead,
at the cemetery gate.
Lilies, roses, chrysanthemums.
He does that every year
on the First of November.
Always there, rain or shine,
for as long as I remember.
 
There is an element of risk
in a venture of that kind
if business is not brisk,
a fact he'll find to his cost.
The bereaved don't feel guilt
bringing their own wreaths
to honour the dead,
but his stock might wilt.
 
We don't feel it's our fault
if his enterprise fails.
We are alone with our grief
as we search for the family vault
or the marmoreal memorial
with the flickering flame
and grandfather's portrait
underneath his name.
 
A perplexed marble angel
observes our proceedings
from the top of a plinth
but remains mute
as we tidy up the tombs
removing moss and weeds,
replacing faded blooms
in a loving, floral tribute.
 
© Luigi Pagano 2019
Certificate U
Poem
Mutevoli pensieri
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by onemorething on

I love the perplexed marble angel, in particular. A lovely, interesting poem. :)

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

I make a point of noticing what people seem to be attracted to in a poem, whether it is the rhyming, the rhythm, a metaphor or quirky phrasing and try to apply that knowledge in my writing to make it engaging. I had a feeling that you may find that stanza appealing, onemorething.

Thank you for your feedback.
Best, Luigi x

 

Submitted by agnosticnun on

I like this! Like onemorething I'm particularly fond of the perplexed angel, but I also like the flower vendor at the gate - they both provide an interesting sideways viewpoint on the proceedings.

Kristi

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

I am delighted by your positive response, as that of onemorething, Kristi, and thank you kindly for letting me know of your appreciation.

Luigi x

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I had missed this, am very glad I read it now, thanks to the link on Agnsiticnun's poem. I like the flower vendor, who seems to show the struggle of life, It seems symbolic the mourners feel no guilt for not helping him earn a living by buying his flowers, only caring for the dead, who are part of them, not caring for a living stranger? Somehow a rejection of life.

But also all the descriptions of the graveyard itself, very different to  graveyards I remember, with lichen covered granite stones, names disappearing with years of wind and rain

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hello Di, it was very kind of Kristi to mention me and I am pleased that it gave you the opportunity to examine this poem and give me your views on it.
The behaviour of some of the mourners may seem callous but they may be excused on the ground that they believe there is no family connection between the flower seller and the deceased and prefer the personal touch for sentimental reasons. Not everyone acts in a selfish way though and a certain quantity of flowers are sold to make the enterprise profitable and this is confirmed by the fact that he is there every year. 

Luigi x

 

Luigi x