Cemetery Walk
Large gathering of people
to tour the resting places
of those who traveled here
to Springfield
or were born here
or left and returned
but all are spending their final slumber
beneath the branches of Oak Ridge
aristocrats and gentleman
women of character and lowly con men
all sharing the earth in this corner
of our great nation
those who sat at the tables of greatness
alongside those of little means
and questionable integrity
how does the wise one die
along with the stupid
strolling among the headstones
feeling the history permeating the proceedings
spending the fourth of July on Madison
fireworks bursting above the capitol dome
how many of the names engraved on these stones
gathered in the heart of the city
to see those same festivities
the night before they left this life
what battles took place, verbal or at the barrel
of a gun, in the very places that I tread?
this city is alive with nostalgia
and memories of noble deeds
that, in their time, shaped the fabric
of what we stand for and who we are,
and among those slabs of stone
I feel I may be treading on the remains
of greatness.
–Aaron P. Hill
People’s Poetry accepts poems on any subject, but ones that deal with issues
of local interest are encouraged. Send yours to Books and Poetry Editor Corrine
Frisch c/o Illinois Times, P.O. Box 5256, Springfield, IL 62705, or to cfrisch@illinoistimes.com with “People’s Poetry” in the subject line.
This article appears in May 6-12, 2004.
