"Ghost Walk"

Unitarian Church Graveyard, Charleston, SC

Ghost Tour

Misty moon, a theatrical guide -
an emotional retelling of Annabelle Lee

a translucent lady searching for love -
what Edgar, in vain, thirsted lifelong

clandestine ground where words surely wooed -
due a father's disdain, were doomed

Romeo to her Juliet; passion, tragedy, eternity -
fodder for which a poet's muse

could only bloom and grow.

by Margaret Bednar, June 6, 2017




I adore Ghost Tours, and this was one of the best I've experienced - largely due to the gentlemen who hosted us.  He was an actor, between jobs, and he knew how to tell a story, project so all could hear, and his ending recital of Edgar Allen Poe's  "Annabelle Lee" was mesmerizing.  The photo is NOT of her (six) grave(s), but another section in the graveyard.

As the story goes, Anna was rich and betrothed to another.  Her love was not her father's choice - the young man was just a private in the army - they met secretly in the graveyard.   Yet Edgar Perry (Allen Poe was his real name, but he lied about his name in order to be allowed to enlist) was transferred far away from Fort Moultrie.  Anna became sick and died - before Edgar could return.  Anna's father dug six graves - so Edgar would never know for sure where she lay in the place they once stole moments of love...

This is linked (late) to "Imaginary Garden of Real Toads Flash 55 Plus" (the bonus was Ghost Town - I tweaked it to Ghost Tour) and to "Imaginary Garden of Real Toads - The Tuesday Platform".

"Brooklyn Bridge"

The Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge

What great monuments man has made
that drape across East River's breadth -
incandescent portraits
of fortune, finesse, and fearlessness.

King's county bows its crown come morn,
Manhattan curtsies (but not demurely) mid cocktail hour -
such ceremony sliced
by tugs, ferries, ships, and boats

all beneath two gothic arches,
a cathedral suspended
clasping two together.

by Margaret Bednar, February 5, 2017

Kings county = Brooklyn

10 things you may not know about the Brooklyn Bridge

This is linked with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Flash 55 Plus" 

"Acquiesce"

Acquiesce

A little boy's wonder 

of jumping rock to rock,

playfully racing 

gently rushing mountain stream

fill's my heart; 

both transparent, both refreshing.

I want to warn 

of slippery surface, hard rocks

but his need to explore 

silences me.

Watch him focus 

on silvery fish,

succeed 

in rock's two skip bounce,

laugh 

as he splashes me.

by Margaret Bednar, October 1, 2016

Linked with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Flash 55 Plus" 

"Komorebi"

A Crocus

Komorebi

Beneath bare branched poplars and beech
a pendulous beauty blooms early this year.

Loblolly pines filter a frolicking light
that tickles and teases winter's garden;
tries coaxing a crocuses' fate to quickly blossom and fade -

make way for buttery daffodils, bursting catkins,
and bountiful Spring.  But I'm in no hurry
as snowdrop's milky white still delights.

By Margaret Bednar, February 9, 2016

You are invited to listen:  https://soundcloud.com/margaretbednar/komorebi

This is for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Flash 55 Plus (use a foreign word) - mine is "Komorebi" which is Japanese for "sunlight that filters through the leaves of trees".

Also linking with Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Tuesday Platform.