Veterans Cemetery

Families come

on Memorial Day

depending on the weather;

otherwise the Fourth of July, 

if it’s not too hot.

You can hear them coming,

adults in the rear,

reminiscing and talking,

children who can read

announcing the names

on the stones until they 

discover the right one. 

Then they shout.

Adults bring flowers, 

placing them softly

in front of the stones 

near our heads.

Children stick little 

flags from parades

in our waistlines.

Some ladies bring towels

and wipe down the stones;

others towelettes to remove

gunk from the lettering. 

All mean well and we 

appreciate the visit and wish 

we could say something.

It’s a thrill to hear voices.

Otherwise it's lawn mowers,

leaf blowers, snow plows 

the rest of the year.

Donal Mahoney