Graveside Surprise

From the
church,

we walked
across
the street

and down the
tree-lined way

to the
cemetery

where –


through the iron gates –

we could see two headstones marking the graves of Lena's
father,
stepmother and
two half-sisters.

On our walk, Tora confided a bit of worry about the state of these graves.

She noted family members are responsible for floral care and to her knowledge,

no one attends this site of her grandparents and unwed aunts.




"An angel

took care

of your

worry,"

I replied

upon our arrival


as the group stood amidst the blooms of this Graveside Surprise.

Gustav (Mikalsen) Bjertnes
December 8, 1862 to August 23, 1914

Laura Bergithe (Eilertsdatter) Bjertnes
December 19, 1868 to October 24, 1955

Klara Sofie Bjertnes
September 22, 1907 to May 26, 1920

Ingeborg Bjertnes
November 6, 1911 to January 2, 1968