An Observation at the Salt Lake City Cemetery

One beautiful fall morning while walking through the Salt Lake City Cemetery I came upon a woman about my age at the grave of a loved one. These were my thoughts.

She came alone with sadness all about her.
She had done her best;
Her untiring efforts recorded upon her face and body.

She approached the flower laden resting place of her parent.
She paused reflecting, eyes fixed upon the mound,
And stooped to select a remembrance.

A long stemmed rose she chose
And straightened with it tenderly;
A lonely last token of a loved one lost.

It was the way of things; the coming and going;
The heavy heart, the mind’s replay, the hope.
She stayed not long, then turned and left alone
With sorrow all about her. It was done.

Judith Kay Brown Nielson
October 2007