The Loudest Sound is Snow

Sitting on a bench named "Potter"
There is a preternatural silence
Punctuated by the chirping of a bird
And the ring of a windchime
A dog is whimpering
in the distance
And a plane flies overhead
But the loudest sound
is the snow hitting the ground
in soft gentle white spirals

Bushes obscure the names on the black monolith
and a girl lies sleeping, half buried in snow
How peaceful it is, falling asleep in snow
Buried beneath that white blanket
until spring comes to thaw

I know your story
or at least a part
some experiences are too private
even when you're gone
But what about Anne and George Masura?
"Dear Father" "Dear Mother"
From the tombstone, you'd assume he fished
But there isn't even a picture of her
It's all dedicated to his military service and fishing
who is that faceless woman?

Standing atop the hill
Gazing through the gate that
I'd just passed through
I can see to the valley
where your earthly remains
remain enclosed within the earth

Standing here it seems strange that
graveyards are so feared
It is peaceful
And the loudest sound is the snow
swirling, twisting, dancing to Earth
blurring the lines
between life and death
between writing and blankness

Morbid reminder:
There's only six feet between the buried and me
and six feet isn't a long way to fall

I remember standing on a different hill
in a different season
the snow rain and gray
it wasn't peaceful
but it is now.



Poetry by grizzedram
Read 718 times
Written on 2013-04-30 at 04:36

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StillHoppin The PoetBay support member heart!
I *love* the idea of the loudest sound being snow. An excellent concept if ever I've heard of one. (applause) :)
2013-05-02



I get a strong sense of being there experiencing this. Very adroitly composed and atmospheric.

William
2013-05-01



Such a still, thoughtful moment in time. This is excellent. *applaud*
2013-05-01


countryfog
A very moving and loving elegy, much like the place I go to and the thoughts I find there. "some experiences are too private
even when you're gone" resonates especially, things we found too painful to confront then are no less difficult now. We bury loved ones but regrets are much harder to let go of.
2013-04-30


Esti D-G The PoetBay support member heart!
Amazing journey "blurring the lines,
between life and death"
beautifully written.
2013-04-30