Friday, October 29, 2010

Friday Magpie -- Mag 38 "Bones"

Mom didn't want to be buried.
"Dead people should be done
with taking up space here."  So we
scattered the ashes late one afternoon.

Unlike Grandma, whose grave is crowded
with the bones of those she had dug up
and moved when the ground changed hands,
"They're not spending eternity in that

heathen place."  So today they rest in a place
on a continent they never visited while
alive.  "There won't be any rest for anyone
in there," Pop pointed out.  Too many

talkers -- too much noise.  I feel like I
can hear their chatter when I visit -- two
whom I knew and two known only
from the stories Mom told. Like her,

they died too young.  It's nice to visit
and talk to the stones.  After
wind scatters the ashes, there's
nowhere to go to talk to the bones.

-kls 2010

This was written in response to the picture above which is courtesy of Magpie Tales.  Write your own and link here to share with the rest of the gang.


So Happy Halloween!  My kids love it for the candy -- I love it for the kids' costumes.  I was asked to make some costumes yesterday(!), but I declined.  I told them that had they asked a month ago, I would have been happy to make them.  The weekend of, not so much.

So now I have to go sample some candy -- it you're going to hand it out, you have to check it out.  It's a public service.

13 comments:

Brian Miller said...

i go and talk to the bones on occassion...perhaps the grave is for us left behind...

kathi harris said...

I like what u said at the end, or rather it's smthing 2 think about...after the wind scatters the ashes, there's nowhere 2 go 2 talk 2 the bones.

Angie Muresan said...

I always wonder what brings more peace of mind to those left behind.

Dick said...

The quiet, undramatic character voice and the simplicity and directness of the language make this poem powerful and moving.

Anonymous said...

This is a wonderful piece. I also talk to bones every once and a while. And it is because of that I have chosen to go off like a Viking... I'd rather people not have one place to celebrate my life but several AND to have a happy memory of the day I was sent out to sea.

Nice Mag.

Love and Light, Sender

Unknown said...

Thanks for the PSA!
Have a lovely day

I'm going to go to talk to the bones :)

Tess Kincaid said...

I like to visit and talk to the bones. Not sure I want to be buried, though. Nice strong piece.

Helena said...

I like the surety in the message here. Nice take on the 'pie.

Enjoy your public service..lol

Lena

Kathe W. said...

I like the way one can go talk to the bones rather than speaking to the winds

Vinay Leo R. said...

sometimes I feel the wind talks of their stories too!

My Magpie

Anonymous said...

'talkers -- too much noise. I feel like I
can hear their chatter when I visit...'
Great line, i really enjoyed reading this one. Sometimes i feel the same way when i visit graveyards, there are so many stories there.

Michele Matucheski said...

Wonderful!

Tumblewords: said...

Nicely turned. I enjoyed the read!