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Array
(
[sid] => 130451
[catid] => 1
[aid] => mick
[title] => Journey’s End
[time] => 2007-01-12 18:25:06
[hometext] => There have been roadside memorials for more than a thousand years.
[bodytext] =>
Concrete scars and asphalt stains,
softened by the guileless rain
a wreath to mark a last salute,
never to flower or bear fruit
watching over the fine debris
of shattered human tragedy,
that’s criticised as social blight
by those offended by the sight.
There they are, along most highways,
main roads and country byways
here a well worn sobriquet,
a faded photo, a dried bouquet
a simple cross with pretty flowers
life is precious when measured in hours
machine gasps in a pristine bed,
speak to some things worse than dead.
A husband, son, brother, friend,
not how it was meant to end
the confrontation of our state, is
we rush headlong into our fate
someone’s daughter, mother, wife
an abrupt demise to a hopeful life
reminders that we all will die,
ponder this, as you drive by.
Afterword:
There have been roadside memorials for more than a thousand years.
Eleanor crosses in England, for example, were erected in 1290 along
the route of the Queen's funeral procession, though these, of course,
were not intended to mark a death place.
The first automobile fatality may have been Mary Ward's accident with
a steam car in 1869. Prior to this, roadside memorials would have
been placed for deaths unrelated to motor vehicles.
In the 1940s and '50s the Arizona State Highway Patrol began using
white crosses to mark the site of fatal car accidents. This practice was
continued by families of road-crash victims after it had been abandoned
by the police. The number of memorials erected in Australia since 1990
has increased considerably. In 2003 it was estimated that one in five
road deaths were memorialised at the site of the crash.
And while some comedians like Jason Curless lambast the ciche as
glorification of bad driving, what really makes me angry are the companies
producing roadside crosses for sale !!, like Roadside Memorials in the US
(complete with machine crafted crosses in cottonwool clouds). The whole
idea of these memorials is personal, handmade; it makes me sick to think
that another human tragedy is being commodified, for either punch lines
or profits. So pay attention on the roads, and die in your beds of old age.
[comments] => 5
[counter] => 302
[topic] => 39
[informant] => spike
[notes] =>
[ihome] => 0
[alanguage] => english
[acomm] => 0
[haspoll] => 0
[pollID] => 0
[score] => 30
[ratings] => 6
[editpoem] => 1
[associated] =>
[topicname] => Grief
)
Journey’s End
Contributed by
spike
on
Friday, 12th January 2007 @ 06:25:06 PM in AEST
Topic:
Grief
|
Concrete scars and asphalt stains,
softened by the guileless rain
a wreath to mark a last salute,
never to flower or bear fruit
watching over the fine debris
of shattered human tragedy,
that’s criticised as social blight
by those offended by the sight.
There they are, along most highways,
main roads and country byways
here a well worn sobriquet,
a faded photo, a dried bouquet
a simple cross with pretty flowers
life is precious when measured in hours
machine gasps in a pristine bed,
speak to some things worse than dead.
A husband, son, brother, friend,
not how it was meant to end
the confrontation of our state, is
we rush headlong into our fate
someone’s daughter, mother, wife
an abrupt demise to a hopeful life
reminders that we all will die,
ponder this, as you drive by.
Afterword:
There have been roadside memorials for more than a thousand years.
Eleanor crosses in England, for example, were erected in 1290 along
the route of the Queen's funeral procession, though these, of course,
were not intended to mark a death place.
The first automobile fatality may have been Mary Ward's accident with
a steam car in 1869. Prior to this, roadside memorials would have
been placed for deaths unrelated to motor vehicles.
In the 1940s and '50s the Arizona State Highway Patrol began using
white crosses to mark the site of fatal car accidents. This practice was
continued by families of road-crash victims after it had been abandoned
by the police. The number of memorials erected in Australia since 1990
has increased considerably. In 2003 it was estimated that one in five
road deaths were memorialised at the site of the crash.
And while some comedians like Jason Curless lambast the ciche as
glorification of bad driving, what really makes me angry are the companies
producing roadside crosses for sale !!, like Roadside Memorials in the US
(complete with machine crafted crosses in cottonwool clouds). The whole
idea of these memorials is personal, handmade; it makes me sick to think
that another human tragedy is being commodified, for either punch lines
or profits. So pay attention on the roads, and die in your beds of old age.
Copyright ©
spike
... [
2007-01-12 18:25:06]
(Date/Time posted on
site)
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Re: Journey’s End
(User Rating: 1 )
by Rakerman1999 on
Friday, 12th January 2007 @ 07:01:36 PM AEST
(User
Info | Send
a Message)
|
Sometimes, if he is good enough, a writer will pick up his pen and create something bigger than life. You sir, are more than good enough and have done so here.
Ya know, they bury a man in a $40 pine box ,dress him in a suit with no back in it, cover him up with free dirt and charge $6000.
That in mind ,no it doesnt surprise me at all that some schmuck is cashing in on the crosses.
Barkeep!!! GIve us two glasses and leave the bottle.
Larry |
|
|
Re: Journey’s End
(User Rating: 1 )
by deadheadpoet on
Saturday, 13th January 2007 @ 02:13:23 PM AEST
(User
Info | Send
a Message)
|
Spike... ahhhh I like this. The poet's pen can be such a strong thing. I have to tell you that like you,I think anyone who would profit over this is ate up, but here in America, it doesn't surprise me. I hate to say this, but I really dislike the big wreaths and fake nasty flowers along the roadside. I can understand if someone wants to leave a marker, but sometimes it is so trashy looking. Shoot I'm so emotional every since we had our car wreck that I cry when I see these things. It is good reminders to drive slow and safe. (I don't drive at all anymore) Good write. I tend to like to voice my opinions in my writes as well.
Peace to you,
Laura |
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|
Re: Journey’s End
(User Rating: 1 )
by wizard on
Sunday, 14th January 2007 @ 05:49:21 PM AEST
(User
Info | Send
a Message)
|
awesome write.. your message was conveyed nicely...
wiz |
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Re: Journey’s End
(User Rating: 1 )
by Former_Member on
Sunday, 14th January 2007 @ 09:37:36 PM AEST
(User
Info | Send
a Message)
|
good grief spike!!!!!
I was so torn by the piece, but then angered with your comments at the
end, I hardly know what to say now. I live on a highway, and I see so many
of these memorials to and from work, (and I live in a considerably small
town). It's heartbreaking.. and the fact that I live in such a small population
means that I know most of these people .. and their families ..
but to learn that someone is profiting from a grieving family is
atrocious!! Not, that I am at all surprised, having lived in this
part of the world .. 'tis sad that so many live and die by the dollar
when true happiness and contentment lie in just living .. (if you
know what I mean).
Much to ponder and learn from this, spike. Thank you for the post ..
as usual, you have done justice to a subject with enormous grace.
~Breezy |
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Re: Journey’s End
(User Rating: 1 )
by Eternal_Dreamer on
Wednesday, 24th January 2007 @ 04:56:59 PM AEST
(User
Info | Send
a Message)
|
My friend your write overwhelmed my heart with such sadness and your authors note replaced these feelings with sheer anger. I can't believe how anybody could be so low as to profit from somebody elses tragic loss.
There are many sick twisted people out there that don't give a damn how they earn extra cash, even if it is at anothers expense.
You have done an outstanding job on this write my dear friend. Thank you for posting this.
hugs n prayers,
sue m |
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