Ronnie McGinn's Poetry Page

If you ever go across the sea to Ireland and ask the people of West Cork where Millstreet is, they will tell you it's in North Cork. The people in North Cork will tell you it's in West Cork. Some humorists will tell you it's in East Kerry. The truth of course, Millstreet is a small country town in North-West Cork close to the Kerry border. It's origin dates back to antiquity. If you ever go there visit the graveyard!

Our poem this week is from Michael J. Roche Jnr. of Rensselaer, in upstate New York. Michael can trace his roots back to West Cork, where he likes to visit from time to time.

Michael has written quite a number of poems and is currently compiling a book.

The Millstreet Graveyard

All stones marked to speak
in time will not.
I have seen the work of process,
the normal course will run.
The work will be done on the stone
as it is done on the flesh.
These now nearly speechless stones,
worn almost bare of mark,
leaning, bent askew,
whispering of love and care,
or, at least,
the semblance of such feelings,
these will fail, break and fall,
and not by human hand.
All will fall.
Those placed in vanity,
those placed in grief,
none survive.
All stones marked to speak
in time will not.

© Michael Roche, Jr.