This poem was written in response to a graduate school assignment. We were asked to go to a very old, historic cemetery in Raleigh and draw conclusions from the tombstones we saw. I noticed that all the women were buried "in relation" to someone else: mother, wife, etc. and I wondered where the other unmarried, childless women were buried.
Where do they bury the maiden aunts?
Next to stones of dearly departed bachelors
hoping they will find true love in death
if not in life?
Next to stones of dearly departed bachelors
hoping they will find true love in death
if not in life?
What do they write on the maiden aunt’s stone?
Not “darling Mother” or “good Wife of”
because she belongs to no one—or does she?
“daughter of”
Not “darling Mother” or “good Wife of”
because she belongs to no one—or does she?
“daughter of”
And what verse on the maiden aunt’s stone?
Is there a line in the Bible for unnatural women
who don’t fulfil their destiny—to serve?
1 Corinthians 13
Is there a line in the Bible for unnatural women
who don’t fulfil their destiny—to serve?
1 Corinthians 13
And what chiseled epitaph for the maiden aunt?
What are the accomplishments of the single woman?
She was polite, gave nice gifts to her siblings’ children
She lived? died
What are the accomplishments of the single woman?
She was polite, gave nice gifts to her siblings’ children
She lived? died
And who visits the grave of the maiden aunt?
Who leaves wreaths or vases or tears?
Who remembers “daughter of” when parents are gone?
Who cares
Who leaves wreaths or vases or tears?
Who remembers “daughter of” when parents are gone?
Who cares
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