Our welcome may be silent but offered sincere
as you enter this quiet space, what do you hear?
Yes, the wind whispers or whips, depends on season,
’round lone chimneys…do you wonder the reason?
Several brick chimneys and two buildings of stone;
commissary and powder house, stand here alone.
We were young soldiers when we marched to this spot
and our work to build fort in west Texas proved hot.
A frontier fort to deal with new settlers’ problem
but after three years, fort burned and abandoned.
Civil war called us, and native peoples moved on…
leaving cannon and wagon, we’re long dead and gone.
____________
For Dora Hak’s “written in stone” prompt at dVerse Poets Pub.
a poem in my pocket 
Feb 15, 2024 @ 03:43:00
This makes me think of Ozymandias.
Feb 15, 2024 @ 22:26:19
“Round the decay of that colossal wreck…
The lone and level sands stretch far away.” Yes, exactly! Thanks, Jane 🙂
Feb 16, 2024 @ 10:45:03
xx
Feb 14, 2024 @ 05:26:16
There is a sadness here that leaves one wanting to know more.
Feb 14, 2024 @ 07:50:54
That’s exactly the feelings i came away with…
Feb 14, 2024 @ 04:34:57
History is so fascinating, all we need is time and openness to examine the past. A beautiful, evocative poem, Lynn, promising much more than is visible.
Feb 14, 2024 @ 07:51:24
thank you 🙂
Feb 15, 2024 @ 08:45:03
You are welcome. 🙂
Feb 14, 2024 @ 04:33:16
So much of the past can be found from ruins… those chimneys have seen a lot.
Feb 14, 2024 @ 07:52:03
yes, stories told around the hearth.
Feb 14, 2024 @ 02:03:55
Evocative words in your invitation to enter the past, Lynn. I love the way you invoke silence and ghosts in this quiet space, and use alliteration ‘wind whispers or whips, depends on season, ’round lone chimneys’, to recreate a mise en scene. It’s a reminder of a troubled past.
Feb 14, 2024 @ 11:34:52
The feeling there was palpable…hope you’re having a good day, Kim.
Feb 14, 2024 @ 15:54:51
Thank you, Lynn.
Feb 13, 2024 @ 20:43:32
A beautiful tribute to those who died there. I love your opening line of silent welcome!
Feb 13, 2024 @ 19:25:14
I could imagine that scene. Great post
Feb 13, 2024 @ 21:23:32
Thanks for stopping by, Brenda!
Feb 13, 2024 @ 19:10:23
Haunting, I could imagine it would have been such a hard time, with isolation and heat. These places are fascinating and transport you as you wonder.
Feb 13, 2024 @ 21:24:57
My husband especially enjoys visiting “ghost towns”…yes, you wonder about their stories!
Feb 13, 2024 @ 17:32:47
I find forts a fascinating study of history. I am sure there are stories to be told from the two buildings of stone. Still there is a loneliness there with the verse:
commissary and powder house, stand here alone.
Feb 13, 2024 @ 21:25:43
Yes, they are fascinating…thank you, Grace.
Feb 13, 2024 @ 15:29:52
Thoroughly enjoyed this poem, Lynn. The words soaked in history and its own finalities in the march of time are echoed so remarkably in the rhythm and rhyme (like the march of soldiers’ feet) of your poem. It made me feel as if I were standing there right beside you, soaking in all that was accomplished around those “lone chimneys.”
Feb 13, 2024 @ 21:26:34
So glad you came along…I appreciate the company 🙂
Feb 13, 2024 @ 21:27:57
💞