Dear Ancestor…
Your tombstone stands among the rest
Neglected and alone
The name and date are chiseled out
On polished marble stone
It reaches out to all who care
It is too late to mourn
You did not know that I exist
You died and I was born
Yet each of us are cells of you
In flesh and blood and bone
Our blood contracts and beats a pulse
Entirely not our own
Dear Ancestor, the place you filled
One hundred years ago
Spreads out among the ones you left
Who would have loved you so
I wonder how you lived and loved
I wonder if you knew
That someday I would find this spot
And come to visit you.
–Walter Butler Palmer
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About CJ Murdoch
Looking For "Dead People"!
My Journey Back In Time - Tracing my ancestors and researching the counties, cities and towns where they resided.
Taking a “Glimpse” into their lives and stories and the times in which they lived; all in an effort to learn about their “Dash”!
“I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of his friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning – to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth and spoke of the second with tears,
but he said that what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.”
I have always been interested in researching my family tree and “hanging out” in cemeteries. Like most of us... I didn't ask enough questions when elderly family were still living. Oh, what I would give for 24 hours and a camera with my ancestors… just to sit and listen!
I'm researching many family lines, including: Murdoch, Wilson, Berry, Love, Scott, Beattie/Beatty, Hendren, Sweeney, Robinson and Elvin; just to name a few. My families are predominantly from counties Antrim, Donegal and Londonderry. However, it seems that many of them, both maternal and paternal lines, originally hailed from Co. Donegal.
I was born and raised in Northern Ireland and now live in Ottawa, Canada, making frequent trips back home to visit with my family. Of course those visits also include treks to the many burial grounds of my ancestors. My most recent trip back home was during the summer of 2019! Looking forward to August of 2020 when I will return.
If you are interested in help tracing your ancestors I’d love to hear from you!
TWISTED LIMBS & CROOKED BRANCHES 
This is lovely 🙂
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Isn’t it Su; I’ve always loved the poem! Hope all is well with you!
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This is beautiful….
Thanks for sharing it!
Best!
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You’re very welcome Sean; thanks for reading! 🙂
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Love that poem! I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada and recently while researching my family tree connected with cousins back in Northern Ireland. I made my first of trip “home” in 2008. My ancestors are buried in the very old Muckamore Burial Ground in Muckamore, Antrim. The burial ground has a beautiful ornate locked gate with only one set of stairs for access. As I walked the narrow side walk, through the gate and stood at the top of the stairs I realized I just literally walked in the foot steps of my ancestors. When I read that poem it always reminds me of how I felt that day! Wonderful blog and facebook page 😀
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Good morning Kelly, thanks for taking the time to read and the lovely compliments. It is a beautiful poem; it just touches that “little space in my heart” that no one else can reach! I’m planning another trip back home this summer (solo this time, c/w my little family’s blessing). If there is anything I can help you with while I’m there, just let me know. I’ll be in the Ballinderry/Derriaghy/Stoneyford area and Ballymoney in Co. Antrim. Then off to Londonderry and various parts of Donegal. Have a great day; it’s snowing again/still in Ottawa! 😦
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Touched my heart !!
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It is lovely Deb! Thanks for reading. Colleen
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