Visiting Miss Em

 

Wise words in Amherst. 

For the first time in years I visited the cemetery in Amherst where local poet Emily Dickinson is buried. 

 

Miss Emily is the number one tourist attraction in Amherst, drawing pilgrims to her grave from all over the world. Someone has placed pens atop her grave, perhaps in case a ghostly muse should strike. Others have left rocks and sea shells, some with notes under them. I was tempted to take a peek at the notes, but restrained myself, as these were missives meant only for Miss Em.

 

Flags and multi-colored roses lie at the foot of the grave. 

Most gravestones have only a name and a date on them - although Miss Emily's stone adds matter of factly, Called Back. Here is a stone I came upon that is pretty intriguing. Why on the grave of an eight year old boy would they have carved this?

 

I'm sure there's a fascinating story about what was done best, but alas, the dead don't share their secrets. 

 

This Jeff Ziff snap is of the tomb of Everett Barney in Springfield's Forest Park. I'll have to go prowl around there with my camera soon. 

Have you been to the hipster paradise in Northampton? Another place I need to check out.

I wish I knew who owns this car parked outside the Florence Inn, so I could shake their hand. 

The sunflowers are coming up good, or at least most of them are. Eight of the original twelve are still alive.