A SMALL TOWN CEMETERY

Small town cemeteries

are well taken care of;

Small town cemeteries

are tended with love;

Here rest the town's children

who died of the 'flu

In '17 and '18 ~

when soldiers died, too.

Here lie the parents

and the grandparents dear

and the families of these

are still living here.

Mothers and Fathers

and daughters and sons

and infants and Veterans

killed by enemy guns...

A rise slopes quite gently

to where two cannon  stand

and all that is missing

Is a bugle and band -

Row upon row

flags flutter and flap

You won't find this place

on any big map.

We read names on the stones

and prayed for the dead

Some of the names

can no longer be read...

For the rains and the snows

have worn the names down

the stones are worn smooth

in this little town ~

Stones resting in shade

Each etched with a name

are ever so peaceful

and I'm glad that we came.

©Christina Sharik

6-04

Ironton Memorial Cemetery

Ironton, OH

Photos taken by: Anthony Pahl, Australian Vietnam Veteran