At the start of a walk at the end of last week, I stopped off at a church which is something I like to do, and while I was there, I had a wander round the graveyard and took a few pictures. The light was awesome, streaming through the trees like mini spotlights, highlighting the beautiful autumn leaves. The warm colours just seem to be very fitting against a backdrop of gravestones which often tend to be cold and grey.
Part of the graveyard was shaded by the church itself and there were tombs there that were laden with daisies. The softer reflected light really brought out the subtle colours and tones in both stone and flower – it just seemed very cohesive and as beautiful to me as the more spectacular autumn foliage.
The visit reminded me of a poem I wrote in a very different graveyard, one that was extremely neglected rather than well tended as these graves obviously are. I called it, ‘Who Cares’ because it seemed that no one cared any longer!
Who Cares
Faceless names upon the stone,
No one knows them, they are gone,
Ashes to ashes, no-one there,
Does anyone care?
Loved ones once, when alive,
But all too soon, their time to die,
Leaving this earth, with mourners there,
People around to care!
Generations passed, all forgot,
No-one now tends their final plot,
Overgrown and in disrepair,
Does anyone care?
Who cares?
Its amazing the difference between a tended and a neglected graveyard. Both have their beauty to me but it seems sad that graves and the people in them are so soon forgotten. Thankfully, I believe, the grave is not the end!
This was such a great start to another awesome walk and I hope you enjoyed wandering a little bit of the graveyard with me.
Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time,
Your friend
The Dorset Rambler
If you would like to contact me, my email address is terry.yarrow@gmail.com – comments and feedback are always welcomed.
All words and pictures in this blog are the copyright of The Dorset Rambler and may not be reproduced without permission.
The Dorset Rambler 
There is beauty even in the untended grave.
Ah yes, there is always beauty in decay Lynette – but not everyone can see it 🙂
Wonderful photos. We visit always also on graveyards while visiting our churches. Graveyards are full of art and this why we love visiting there.
Thank you. Yes, there is so much art and wildlife in our cemeteries, even the ones that appear to be overgrown and neglected. Great places to photograph and to sit and think 🙂
On our graveyards we have gorgeous:
Memorials
They certainly look beautiful in your photos. We have some large memorials here although mainly from the wealthy aristocratic families.
Thank You. Do You have these?
Beautiful bell towers in Finland
You have an amazing collection of photos. The bell towers are unusual – ours are normally part of the church rather than separate.
Thank You.
These are unique in Finland:
Statues of Paupers1