Prague Jewish Cemetery Poem by Deanna Samuels

There was that hushed moment
on entry into the cemetery,
a moment of an eerie inner feeling
as though the heaviness of those long-gone souls
weighted upon one,
almost crying out to welcome a visitor
into their never-ending resting place.

Recovering slowly from those doleful moments,
one's eyes opened to the several thousands
of weather worn gravestones hundreds of years old
coming out of the ground at varying angles and heights,
leaning backwards, sideways and to the front,
giving an appearance of aged old gowned beings
wandering hither and thither with unknown direction.

The Hebrew carved writing on each stone, some discernible,
some illegible, as well worn away over the past centuries.
The cemetery grounds undulating, rise and fall gently,
while overhead, covered protectively by canopy of cooling trees.
It felt as though the gravestones were following one,
calling out, ‘look at me, I am here', waiting, waiting, but know not what.
The whole atmosphere haunting, unearthly and so sad.

The Cohen and Levy gravestones, notably the priests and assistants
were denoted by specific symbols of pine cones and serving hands.
Double grave stones denoted a husband and wife dying within same year.
The gravestone of a high ranking much beloved rabbi
sought out and visited by the many followers of his dictum and
just before the exit, a white marbled gravestone monument
for the only woman in that cemetery afforded such status.

A truly unforgettable moment on visiting this historic old Jewish cemetery,
a time of yesterday's life that is long gone and no more.


Written in Prague shortly following visit to old Jewish Cemetery - 23rd August 2023.