Elmwood Cemetery is a wonderful old cemetery near downtown Detroit. I love this bunny. It was not on a child's grave, but on the grave of an eighty-something-year-old woman. If you would like to see more pictures from Elmwood cemetery, click on the label links on the lower right.
We are working at the Rolandale House today and I had to come home briefly for something, but am leaving again immediately so will not be commenting until tomorrow or the next day, probably. Please be patient, I SHOULD be back tomorrow I hope, at least at some point?
13 comments:
What makes us like old cemeteries? Almost everyone I know does...and I like that bunny, too. Don't you wonder why it was put there
Yes, I wonder, too, what significance the bunny has...maybe the lady planned to hop into heaven?
Or maybe she wanted a couple of rabbit's feet for good luck wherever she was going?
You should tell that fellow by the sign he needs to get busy and restore that pond or whatever.
;-)
Thanks so much Rose and Jacob.
I really appreciate your kind comments. I do wonder what significance the rabbit had!
BB has been working mighty hard, but not restoring that pond. Today he was trimming trees and shrubs and pulling weeds and supervising the work on creating drainage for Rolandale basement.
It's a lovely, whimsical marker and I like it!
For a grave, that's cute. I'm glad that it was someone who had a good innings, as I thought it was a baby, and that always depresses me!
You are just like the Energizer Bunny;constantly on the move.
Thank you all for your very interesting comments. I wonder if the lady in the grave has moved on to where she is constantly moving, B. I must say I move around a lot. I think it's lovely and whimsical too--I like it a lot! :-D And I too was relieved it wasn't a child. And pleased as well that it would be given to an older woman.
Here is a haunting poem by Frank Lebby Stanton (1857-1927). Stanton was born in Charleston, South Carolina, where they know all about graveyard symbolism...
The Graveyard Rabbit
In the white moonlight, where the willow waves,
He halfway gallops among the graves—
A tiny ghost in the gloom and gleam,
Content to dwell where the dead men dream,
But wary still!
For they plot him ill;
For the graveyard rabbit hath a charm
(May God defend us!) to shield from harm.
Over the shimmering slabs he goes—
Every grave in the dark he knows;
But his nest is hidden from human eye
Where headstones broken on old graves lie.
Wary still!
For they plot him ill;
For the graveyard rabbit, though sceptics scoff,
Charmeth the witch and the wizard off!
The black man creeps, when the night is dim,
Fearful, still, on the track of him;
Or fleetly follows the way he runs,
For he heals the hurts of the conjured ones.
Wary still!
For they plot him ill;
The soul’s bewitched that would find release,—
To the graveyard rabbit go for peace!
He holds their secret—he brings a boon
Where winds moan wild in the dark o’ the moon;
And gold shall glitter and love smile sweet
To whoever shall sever his furry feet!
Wary still!
For they plot him ill;
For the graveyard rabbit hath a charm
(May God defend us!) to shield from harm.
......................................
You may also find this page of grave symbols of value when you next visit a cemetery:
Grave Addiction
WOW! That's very interesting. Thank you very much, V, for enlightening and "entertaining" me!!
You are most welcome. Gravestones, it appears, speak a lost language, much like that of flowers, which our ancestors knew.
I couldn't get the website to open, I will try again another time. But I loved the poem. And looked around at the facebook site etc.
Tonight I discovered a website that explains gravestone symbolism. It happens that rabbits often represent humility, gentleness, and self-sacrifice. This may or may not be the case with the rabbit headstone in your cemetery.
Thank you Jenny! I appreciate your kind and informative comment.
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