I crack a spine untouched
since 1865
faded signatures of men now dust
is this all they've left behind?

small spot within her book
that held her flowers and rhyme
a cypher writ to hide
thoughts not allowed her mind

I wonder how her heart
changed on that fateful day
when running out to see them
what did they have to say

tales of blood and dust
of boys too soon to men
only to be slain
there in the Devil's Den

What sound would make the tongue
that now felt only pain
whose pride had fled away
whilst marching back that day?

and yet they've made their mark
left within their names
knowing now for sure
not much time remain'd

still the pride apparent
within the flowing script
a belief so strong tho errant
mistakes made by just men

Only this I can say
her cyphers are no more
all blank after one page
written by men now dust
passing through on that day

and looking as I must
always check the last page
I find there is another
like mind from earlier days

Inscribed there on the end leaf
a post script of the grave
verse of futility and hopelessness

"A Life on the Ocean Wave"


A life on the ocean wave
A home on the roaring deep
dried saltines three times a day
and a leaky old berth to sleep
where the grey cockroach roams
in kindly thoughts intent
and the raving bed bug comes
the way the cockroach went
---JR John Ridgely


All in All it was a "civil" war
but even gallant men must die

06/28/2010

Author's Note: Actually a true story. While reading through a cypher book from the 1800's that a young girl had been keeping I found the signatures of Confederate soldiers on the way back from Gettysburg. She must have asked them to sign in her book and they did. In the end of the book after many blank pages I found the poem above. I plan on posting a photograph of the signatures with the poem superimposed at some point. I will also add the actual soldiers name at that time.

Posted on 06/29/2010
Copyright © 2024 Maria Terezia Ferencz