Finding Poetry in the Ferron Cemetary
Found poem are really fun to do. You gather words and phrases already out there and bind them together in a unique way. This summer, the kids and I drove with my parents to an extended family reunion (the Lemons-my Grandma Beth's side) outside of Ferron, Utah. Ferron is a very small town in Eastern Utah where my Grandma was born and raised. On the way, we stopped at the Ferron cemetery to see Grandma's gravesite.
Light filtered through the trees, settling on warm summer air. The cemetery was very peaceful. Bees hummed at flowers as birds flitted through the skies. It was a fitting resting place for my Grandma. As we perused the cemetery, my eyes caught words etched on headstones. I was surprised to find a wealth of poetry. In years past, it wasn't uncommon to write phrases or even poems on headstones. The words I found dated back from over one hundred years ago. I found myself touched by these tributes, a parting gift to those who had passed on. I grabbed my notepad and wrote some down. I found words of love, of faith and hope, and really, that is what you need when you are saying goodbye to someone you love.
Finding Hope in Ferron
Rest
in peace,
of such is the kingdom
of heaven, forever
to bask
in the joys of the blest.
Rest mother, rest
in quiet
sleep, while friends in sorrow
over thee weep.
Darling,
we miss thee.
My life is like an apple tree, my roots
deep in the earth and this faith nourishes me.
Many birds have built their nest here, soon
they are winged and gone. When my leaves
have fallen and all my birds have flown,
still I stand firm-rooted in sure knowledge
spring will come. I lift my blossomed boughs,
holding them high to God.
To know thee was to love thee.
If tears could build a stairway
and memories a lane,
I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you
home again.
His was a life of service in his family
and to Humanity.
A little time on earth
she spent. Till God for her
His angel sent.
Budded on earth to bloom in heaven.
Death leaves a heartache no one
can heal. Love leaves a memory
no one can steal.
Rest in peace,
our little darling. We part
in sorrow
and pain, in our hearts you
shall ever live,
until me meet again.
We thank God every time
we think
of you.
The shadow on the dial ran back,
leaving thee always young.
Peace out.
Light filtered through the trees, settling on warm summer air. The cemetery was very peaceful. Bees hummed at flowers as birds flitted through the skies. It was a fitting resting place for my Grandma. As we perused the cemetery, my eyes caught words etched on headstones. I was surprised to find a wealth of poetry. In years past, it wasn't uncommon to write phrases or even poems on headstones. The words I found dated back from over one hundred years ago. I found myself touched by these tributes, a parting gift to those who had passed on. I grabbed my notepad and wrote some down. I found words of love, of faith and hope, and really, that is what you need when you are saying goodbye to someone you love.
Finding Hope in Ferron
Rest
in peace,
of such is the kingdom
of heaven, forever
to bask
in the joys of the blest.
Rest mother, rest
in quiet
sleep, while friends in sorrow
over thee weep.
Darling,
we miss thee.
My life is like an apple tree, my roots
deep in the earth and this faith nourishes me.
Many birds have built their nest here, soon
they are winged and gone. When my leaves
have fallen and all my birds have flown,
still I stand firm-rooted in sure knowledge
spring will come. I lift my blossomed boughs,
holding them high to God.
To know thee was to love thee.
If tears could build a stairway
and memories a lane,
I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you
home again.
His was a life of service in his family
and to Humanity.
A little time on earth
she spent. Till God for her
His angel sent.
Budded on earth to bloom in heaven.
Death leaves a heartache no one
can heal. Love leaves a memory
no one can steal.
Rest in peace,
our little darling. We part
in sorrow
and pain, in our hearts you
shall ever live,
until me meet again.
We thank God every time
we think
of you.
The shadow on the dial ran back,
leaving thee always young.
Peace out.
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