“Unearthing Secrets: A Journey Through Memory and Mortality in JD DeHart’s Poetic Graveyard”
Ever strolled through a graveyard, feeling that peculiar mix of comfort and eeriness? I often find myself drawn to these hallowed grounds—where silence reigns and memories linger like whispered secrets. It’s fascinating how places steeped in history can spark our imaginations, isn’t it? In this enchanting poem, we glimpse the poet’s experience—the juxtaposition of life and death, hope and despair, all captured through the lens of a Polaroid camera. Each snapshot taken in this sacred space raises intriguing questions: What stories lie beneath those grave markers? Could there be ghosts lurking among the memories? The ethereal moment when an image emerges, fading into being, encapsulates that uncanny blend of life and afterlife perfectly. Dive into this evocative exploration and ponder the haunting allure of memories and what lies beyond. LEARN MORE.
We visited the graveyard often
Even though we knew no one
In the graves themselves
It was at the crest of a hill
As if to place the dead skyward
With my Polaroid camera, I would
Snap photos of the markers, hoping
And simultaneously not hoping
That in one of them there would be
The wisp or specter of a ghost
When the products popped out
There was always that moment
Of ethereal mystery as the image
Faded into firm being.
