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Poems - A Chapel's Tears
| | A Chapel's Tearsby WordLover
I normally don't write about zombies and spirits and such (so I'm a bit out of my element here),however, a friend in my writing class asked me if I would write a poem about a "real" subject that she is involved with. There is a tiny chapel in Evans City, PA that was featured in the original 1968 film Night of the Living Dead, that is now in a state of disrepair and will be torn down if they cannot raise funds to save it. They are trying to not only renovate, but have it declared "historical" so it can be protected. This poem will be part of an anthology - a mix of short stories, prose and poetry that she is putting together. Soooo, all that being said, I just wanted to give you all a little background before you read this. Hope you like it, and thanks for taking time to read it.
It is written as a personification poem (in the chapel's voice):
Now death is in me.
I smell the fetid fear permeating
my stifling, musty chapel of
sorrow. I hear it in the low, mournful
cries of the few wretched souls
hideously caught between heaven and hell.
Spirits of the dead are restless,
whispering and thrashing about.
They are not wanted here,
yet I am powerless to free them.
I hear their wails of agony
lamenting their eternal enslavement
in my macabre, morbid limbo.
I listen to the shuffling
of decaying cadavers, the living dead,
prowling my pitch-black cemetery.
Their piercing screams fill the silent night,
as flailing arms helplessly reach out,
seeking souls forever beyond their grasp.
Never can they enter my doorway.
As day dawns, I watch a sliver of sunlight
work its way through broken planks
of my crumbling walls, illuminating my dreary,
dank dwelling. For a moment its warmth embraces
me as I recall joyful memories of long ago,
when I was cared for, cherished and beautiful.
A time when harmonious music
and impassioned prayer filled
my sacred sanctuary. When beams of light
reflected from every pristine window
and immaculate, white wall,
and my beloved altar shown resplendent
from the labor of loving hands.
I grieve for what I once was and fear I will
collapse under this heavy weight
of rotting wood and neglect. As,
board by board, I disintegrate,
again becoming one with the earth.
“Dust thou art,
and unto dust thou shalt return.”
Maybe there is some hope left.
I still believe in hope.
Restore my pride and I will shine once more.
Free me and I will release these trapped souls,
whose burden of sadness lays so heavy upon me.
Save me, so that I may save them.
Please Don’t Let
Evans City Chapel
Return To Dust.
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Re: A Chapel's Tears
(Score: 1 )
by butterflyzrfree on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 (07:35:22) |
kudos to you, Sandy! This is great! I recently wrote a zombie poem for the first tiem too! How funny! Take it easy! Gail
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Re: A Chapel's Tears
(Score: 1 )
by WordLover on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 (08:07:09) |
Oh Gail, thanks SO much - once I had the idea to speak in the Chapel's voice, it came much easier. Zombies are apparently quite the "in" thing now. So glad you liked this one - means a lot.
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Re: A Chapel's Tears
(Score: 1 )
by maryanns on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 (12:18:43) |
Ummm, so full of sincerity and compelling detail in the sacred voice of the once lovely chapel. Who could not eagerly respond and lend a hand in working toward it's restoration, film or no film. I echo your plea at the end; what a beautiful and worthwhile poem, Sandy. Very best wishes, Mary Ann
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Re: A Chapel's Tears
(Score: 1 )
by WordLover on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 (06:48:01) |
Thanks so much for those encouraging words, they mean a lot!
Sandy
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Re: A Chapel's Tears
(Score: 1 )
by kapilsharma on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 (22:45:28) |
Hi! This is lovely>>>>>>  <<<<<<<
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Re: A Chapel's Tears
(Score: 1 )
by kapilsharma on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 (22:46:11) |
Hi! This is lovely>>>>>> <<<<<<<
<<>>10<<>> from the heart
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Re: A Chapel's Tears
(Score: 1 )
by WordLover on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 (06:48:50) |
dear kapilsharma - I really appreciate your taking time to read and comment on my work - and it's nice to meet you! 
Sandy
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Re: A Chapel's Tears
(Score: 1 )
by deepali on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 (10:07:43) |
This chapel's voice can apply to anything or anyone, disintegrated at the hands of time...
I found this so sad and amazing cause of it's universal application.
warmest wishes,
D.
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Re: A Chapel's Tears
(Score: 1 )
by WordLover on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 (13:45:29) |
Thank you so much, my friend! That's what I love about personification poems - you can really get your thoughts out there, no matter what the topic. I was a bit nervous about doing this one, until I thought about using the voice of the chapel itself, and then it came easier. Thanks so much, as always, for your kind words.
Sandy
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Re: A Chapel's Tears
(Score: 1 )
by MoZark on Thursday, April 19, 2012 (08:28:33) |
The fourth stanza was outstanding, writing at its best. I had a feeling such as this when some childhood memories were finally let go. Your poem in its entirety was fantastic.
Have a grand tomorrow…Jack
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Re: A Chapel's Tears
(Score: 1 )
by WordLover on Thursday, April 19, 2012 (17:29:13) |
thank you so much Jack, for your very kind words. This wasd a bit out of my element, writing about zombies was definitely not my strong suit, but when I decided to write it in the first person - in the voice of the chapel speaking - it all kind of came together. I am very glad you liked it, and again, thanks so much.
Sandy
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Re: A Chapel's Tears
(Score: 1 )
by Zbird on Sunday, April 22, 2012 (08:54:29) |
touching and filled with so much emotions. if this poem doesn't touch a lot of hearts I don't know what will.
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Re: A Chapel's Tears
(Score: 1 )
by WordLover on Sunday, April 29, 2012 (09:19:47) |
Thanks so much Bonnie! I wrote this at the request of a friend who is very involved in this project. I really appreciate your encouraging words.
Sandy
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Re: A Chapel's Tears
(Score: 1 )
by wordsmithwannabe on Saturday, April 28, 2012 (23:55:39) |
it's amazing how a piece of architecture, an inanimate object, can stir up such emotion in people. well penned, Sandy, a fitting tribute.
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Re: A Chapel's Tears
(Score: 1 )
by WordLover on Sunday, April 29, 2012 (09:21:35) |
chris, you know I really have found that I like to write personification poems - for some reason they come easier to me than some other forms. This was easy once I got the general idea of what I needed to say. As I said above, I know nothing of zombies, so at first I was a little hesitant. So glad you appreciated it and 'got" the meaning so well.
Thanks, my friend.
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Re: A Chapel's Tears
(Score: 1 )
by starstruck13 on Sunday, May 06, 2012 (10:24:43) |
wow this brought a shiver to my bones and a tear to my eyes you sure nailed a good one here i enjoyed this poem so very much and i hope they saved the landmark in my eyes its a shame to tear down something or not to repair of historical history if i could i would reach out and save this building for all generation's to behold just for whats its worth my opinion
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Re: A Chapel's Tears
(Score: 1 )
by WordLover on Sunday, May 06, 2012 (10:32:07) |
Thank you SO much for those words. Initially a friend in a writer's class told me about this. I am not a horror film person by any means, so when she asked me if I would contribute something to the cause, I told her I wasn't sure if it was something I could write about with enough conviction. I came up with the idea of writing in the first person (in the voice of the chapel) and it seemed to work pretty well. I am so glad that this moved you - that's the greatest compliment a fellow writer can receive, thanks again.
Sandy
P.S. the last thing I heard was that they were well on their way to reaching their $$ goal and will have enough to renovate it. At that time, hopefully, they can request "historical status" and it can be protected.
Added on: 17-Apr-2012 | Hits: 249 |
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