MetaChat - The best cemetery inscription I've ever found.

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26 October 2006

The best cemetery inscription I've ever found. Seen while I was taking two out-of-town friends through Atlanta's amazing Oakland Cemetery. I visit this place once or twice a year, and always see something that I've never seen before.

post by: BoringPostcards at: 21:24 | 15 comments

But who said it? The deceased? I HATE uncredited quotes!!!

posted by rainbaby 26 October | 21:33

That is wonderful. And google comes up empty. I wonder whose words they are.

posted by iconomy 26 October | 21:40

Yes, but do they have Tom Thumb?

posted by Pips 26 October | 21:58

(Tom Thumb, like P.T. Barnum (Humbug!), are buried at one of my favorite cemeteries, Mountain Grove Cemetery, in my beloved birthplace, Bridgeport, CT. I'm also rather fond of this one at Mountain Grove. I think it's supposed to be a giant die. They say life's a gamble...)

posted by Pips 26 October | 22:13

On an even larger scale, the solar system as we know it is probably third- or fourth-generation star material. Two or three generations of stars had to condense, form and then explode to create the heavier elements.

] Don't you hate it when somebody goes all nerdy like this? [

posted by mischief 26 October | 22:17

I love that we're made of stardust. Amino acids having been found in the very stuff of forming stars... spread like dandelion seeds to new planets...

*flashes nerd clubkid card to mischief/performs secret handshake*

posted by Pips 26 October | 22:25

From Brandon Lee's grave:

"BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHEN WE WILL
DIE, WE GET TO THINK OF LIFE AS AN
INEXHAUSTIBLE WELL. YET EVERYTHING
HAPPENS A NUMBER OF TIMES,
AND A VERY SMALL NUMBER, REALLY.
HOW MANY MORE TIMES WILL YOU
REMEMBER A CERTAIN AFTERNOON OF YOUR
CHILDHOOD, AN AFTERNOON THAT'S SO
DEEPLY A PART OF YOUR BEING THAT YOU
CAN'T EVEN CONCEIVE OF YOUR LIFE
WITHOUT IT? MAYBE FOR OR FIVE TIMES
MORE. PERHAPS NOT EVEN THAT. HOW
MANY MORE TIMES WILL YOU WATCH THE
FULL MOON RISE? MAY BE TWENTY, AND
YET IT ALL SEEMS SO LIMITLESS."

For Brandon and Eliza
Ever joined in true love's beauty

The quote is from Paul Bowles's The Sheltering Sky. I found it quite affecting, the first time I read it. The graves of Bruce and Brandon Lee bring to mind the tomb of a Greek hero--they are covered in flowers, coins and handwritten notes each and every day. It's really amazing to see how many people still leave such grave gifts year after year. See here for more.

posted by y2karl 26 October | 23:08

If you like cemeteries and are ever in Cambridge, MA, you must visit Mt. Auburn Cemetery. Arguably the first of what are called the "Garden Plan" cemeteries; which moved burial grounds from being linear, nondescript graveyards to being quasi-parks -- when Mt. Auburn was first opened it was a popular picnic destination for young lovers. Other early garden cemeteries include Valley Cemetery in Manchester NH and BoringPostcard's Oakland (from Wiki: Oakland's first resident since its establishment can be found. Dr. James Nissen was a medical doctor visiting Atlanta who fell ill and died in 1850. Legend has it that Dr. Nissen shared a common fear of the day, being buried alive. Therefore, before his death he asked that his jugular vein be cut prior to his burial to ensure he did not wake up later under the ground.).

I really like wandering around old cemeteries, but it gives my wife the willies, so I don't get to do it much.

posted by Rock Steady 26 October | 23:13

Oops, forgot link to Mt. Auburn.

posted by Rock Steady 26 October | 23:14

Jesus Called.

I see a lot of great tombstones. The best are the homemade ones. One of my favorites (I can't seem to find a picture of it) is a handmade concrete slab that says, "Gone but not forgot the family." It also refers to his birthday as "Bone on..." Honest.

posted by ColdChef 26 October | 23:45

Gravestones that tell stories... (Last two lines only)
≡ Click to see image ≡

posted by seanyboy 27 October | 02:24

seanyboy: That's awesome.

posted by ColdChef 27 October | 06:19

amro has a great one.

posted by mike9322 27 October | 09:17

≡ Click to see image ≡

posted by Wedge 27 October | 09:30

I also wander cemeteries, I love the old ones especially. Here are some of the epitaphs I've read....

The grave is ready, let me rest
no longer linger here oppressed.
Cold, in the dust, my perished heart may lie,
But that which warmed it once will never die.
______________

The father and the children dead,
we hope to heaven their souls are fled.
The widow now alone is left,
of all her family bereft.
May she now put her trust in God
to heal the wounds made by his rod.
_______________

Here lyes buried the body of
Mrs Lois Foster the wife of
Mr Thomas Foster
who died September ye 21st
1743 with one child buried
in her arm and five more
by her side: Elisha, John,
Gershom, Gershom, & Hanna
________________

All you that doth behold my stone
Consider how soon I was gone
Death does not always warning give
Therefore be careful how you live
Repent in time no time delay
I in my prime was called away

posted by redvixen 27 October | 18:54

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