Marble Orchards
24 March 2021 Wednesday Prose Poem: the weight of ink
Heard the whispering of words, in the coming darkness; in the neatness of gravestones marching in stark white order; standing abruptly at attention, while civilians in dark gray suits and black dresses, holding tightly to flowers and their tears, stand in twos and fours beside those that are no more.
Heard the weight of their prayers, as they echoed the memories, the images in great detail of childhoods cut short, and lifetimes compressed into two or three incandescent years — blazing in glory. Dying in retrospect for other words written so long ago.
Words heavy with the weight of ink; with the meaning of freedom and God and everlasting peace, that eluded and exuded all manner of retribution for those falling short. Those who did not exalt themselves on the battlefields of meaningless banter and rhetoric — Oh Say Can You See — as dusk falls over the marble orchard, and the rain ensues. As the many scurry, clutching old dying flowers and tattered flags,
And car doors open and close as engines roar into life and like a caravan of multi-colored beetles, the mourners wend their way towards their own personal freedom. Towards the solace of hearth and home. Toward forgetfulness and peace of mind, where words and the mighty weight of sorrow, does not bear down like God’s thumb, tilting a world until it rattles with every turn.
Heard the whispering of words on the corners and in darkened tunnels; under bright atriums, and in the coming of dawn as the chill winds of Change ripped through the firmament. Stirring the ashes, and raising hope, that at last — it will now endure.
These prompts seem to reach parts of me that have been dormant for some time. That stopped tilting windmills years ago and sought refuge in the ordinary. And though some of these poems may seem dark — they really aren’t. Because, I have found that the only way to release darkness, is to shine a light on it. To expose it to the current moment and through awareness, allow them to change and become something much better. First heard the term — Marble Orchards — about 50 years ago. Why it came to light with Wednesday’s prompt, I don’t know. But there it is.
J.D. Harms Karen Madej Dr Mehmet Yildiz Paul Myers MBA George J. Ziogas Amy Marley Harley King James Knight Salvatore Cagliari Caroline de Braganza Michele Thill Trista Ainsworth Kira Dawn Eli Snow ScienceDuuude Britni Pepper Desiree Driesenaar Liam Ireland Gurpreet Dhariwal R Tsambounieri Talarantas Paroma Sen Adelia Ritchie, PhD Terry L. Cooper janny’s heart Rebecca Romanelli
