I Watered Annie's Grave Today



Behind my house
Beneath the trees
Sheltered from the springtime breeze
I raked away great whiffs of grief
From Annie's grave today.

Next to the mound of acorn shells
Ripe maple leaves...decaying smells
Fresh waves of grief assault me now
As I touch the wet-cracked clay.

Purple hyacinths, and tulips abound
Lilacs bloom, and all around
Life springs forth from the watered ground
Perhaps a dog can too?

Tied sprigs of springtime, faded and dry
Summer bouquets, wither and die
Autumn now paints another gray sky
And the acorns cover the ground.

Behind my house
Beneath the trees
Sheltered from the springtime breeze
I watered Annie's grave today...
I still can't say "good-bye".

About this poem

Everyone has their own way of grieving, but sometimes it's hard to let go.

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Submitted by lovingempath on May 04, 2022

Modified on April 13, 2023

37 sec read
188

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABBxc ddxc eeex fffe ABBcf
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 680
Words 123
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 5, 4, 4, 4, 5

Robin Loving

Sometimes the words flow like a murder of crows. They've held my secrets for the past 65-years. And sometimes they repeat them back to me, and laugh. more…

All Robin Loving poems | Robin Loving Books

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4 Comments
  • AIDA
    Wow, what a beautiful and emotional poem! The vivid imagery and heartfelt tone kept me glued from beginning to end. The way you paint the scene of raking away "great whiffs of grief" and then watering Annie's grave evokes a deep sense of empathy and connection with the speaker's pain.

    Your use of nature as a backdrop adds another layer of meaning and creates a sense of timelessness that really resonated with me. The changing seasons, the decay of leaves and the blooming of flowers, all serve to underline the message of passing time and the cycle of life.

    My only suggestion for improvement would be to perhaps experiment with the structure of the poem a bit more. While the lines themselves flow beautifully, the rhyming scheme felt a bit predictable and could use some shaking up.

    Overall, though, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this poem and was moved by its poignant message. Keep up the fantastic work!
     
    LikeReply11 months ago
  • Symmetry58
    I hope this isn't off-putting, but this brought tears to me eyes. I once very much loved a woman named Anna who passed away in 2004. It also made me reflect on my brother who lost a 6-month old son many years ago. The pain is always there as a reminder of how we loved little Cammie. You are an amazing writer, Robin. 
    LikeReply 21 year ago
    • lovingempath
      I'm not 'put off' at all. As a matter of fact, I feel honored that I could touch your heart. I think most people who write poetry are trying to communicate a message or feeling that others can relate to. Thank you :) 
      LikeReply 21 year ago
  • sircharlenesir
    It's beautiful and timeless
    LikeReply 11 year ago
  • phil0238
    Heart felt meaning in these words and story
    LikeReply 11 year ago

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"I Watered Annie's Grave Today" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/129225/i-watered-annie's-grave-today>.

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