These are the first Swifts I have ever seen to be pictured on a tombstone and I think they are so beautiful, that you could almost forget the sense of loss they depict.
The symbol of the Swift denotes the fleeting passage of time that their brief summer visits herald. When portrayed as a flock of swifts, these migratory birds remind us of the departure that comes before a journey toward a better place.
Sacred to the Memory of
James Childs
Died April 5 1880 Age 60 Years
also James, Grandson
Died Dec 25 1886 Age 7 Mths
also Sarah, his wife
Died March16 1897 Age 76 Years
also Elizabeth, Granddaughter
? Age 9 Years
There is also another Grandson who died May 22 and another Elizabeth, who died in January that is mentioned as well. Unfortunately I was unable to get any closer due to overgrown brambles in that area and so this was the best I could capture from a distance.
No comments:
Post a Comment