A car door slams, when my destination is reached. A gate, enclosing generations of secrets, creaks when moved. A bell chimes four times, ringing in the new hour.
The Earthy smell of freshly cut grass and roses linger around my nose, taken in by my lungs.
My steps crush fallen leaves as I gently walk around. My eyes take in the many shades of grey on green along with purples, yellows, and reds spread about on the grey.
My fingers scrape against a grey slab worn away and rigid from tears. To the right, is another slab smooth and shining in the sun. Off in the distance a large tree sits, with branches whispering in the wind. The leaves watching the fallen ones, before falling themselves.
The wind softly sells faded stories of the worn names on slabs no longer distinguishable. Flags wave with pride saluting the fallen soldiers.
Paper windmills spin around with bright colors reflecting the stolen childhoods of children who never had the chance to live, but now rest in dreams.
The moon rises, bringing in a muted light that illuminates small details. The crisp air tastes of musk and the sky is now at dusk. I can feel a certain presence. My favorite place, the only place, that follows acceptance.
This was written during my freshman year of high school (2016) as a part of a poetry book project. This poem in particular is about my favorite place, the local cemetery. My poetry book had a theme of accepting yourself for who you are, and it is no coincidence that acceptance is the final stage of death.