Grave Poem of Spoon Island: Merideth Hurley
(1990)
Inspired by the book "Spoon River Anthology" by Edgar Lee Masters. These poems have been crafted by me under the title "Grave Poems of Spoon Island".
Life has a way of playing the vile… Or, providing an evener, some migh… I, who did not want to go to war, Seeing the senselessness of it, Stayed at home to work the farm -
The taste of winter ice Dug in August from the sawdust Of Conley’s ice house The slap of the screen door On Grammy’s porch
the silence of colour palette of fall reflected on water white birch trees granite rocks
see them standing in glass houses clutching stones of fear anxiety suits and shoes boots and jeans makeup and hair powdered and perfumed
white-rimmed waves crawl reluctantly shore ward moody city skyline rebuffs shafts of sunshine cloud confusion
she watches him as if the fault were in her eyes poor shorn Sampson withered hands grip the canes that barely hold the frail reflect…
SHIPBOARD last night from starless skies a t… stunned and shaken, seeking shelte… from unfamiliar shipboard lights I watched it falter with wings out…
seek the council of wild things in… leaves that turn their silver side… before the rain slender reeds that accept and bend they will sew your words abroad
There is an even-handed justice in… No senility forgiven, but caught a… Blood and flesh, bone and marrow To feed the life of another, And back to the earth that gave it…
In the universe Of winking stars is there one Who also wonders?
it was always said that of all the people on the Island I loved life the best I who had the least but I had all I needed
silent universe solitary traveller a perfect union
which of our ancestors did it - traded wings for thumbs burdened us with possessions fed us to the uncompromising earth…
WINTER SHADOW / Feb 11, 2011 small white stones fall rattling to the ground a shadow keeps pace beside me through the groaning night
surf and turf of St. Andrews olde salts and bullshit under one blue tarp gossip thick as molasses sparks quick as match-lit gas