I happened to chance upon this poem a while ago when I was checking my email. Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep is a poem largely considered to be written by Mary Elizabeth Frye (1904-2004), but of disputed origin. Of course the reason I am sharing this remarkable verse here is not to discuss who the original author is but to share with you the wisdom in the words.
It was said that Frye first wrote this poem in 1932 for a German Jewish friend, Margaret Schwarzkopf. Margaret Schwarzkopf had been worrying about her mother, who was ill in Germany. The rise of Anti-Semitism had made it unwise for her to join her mother. When her mother died, she told Mary Frye she had not had the chance to stand by her mother’s grave and weep.
Frye wrote the poem as part of her condolences. Like Frye who wrote this inspiring verse for her friend, I would like to share this remarkable verse with you and to the survivors of Myanmar’s (Burma) Cyclone and China’s Earthquake. May this poem inspires, consoles and strengthens their human spirits.
Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.
_____________________________________
Photo credit: Ulrich Welzel
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i uber love the poem! it’s so moving and really touching. i posted it in my blog and made a link to this site. hope you don’t mind. have a great day 🙂
nices last blog post..
Nice, it’s alright 🙂
beautiful poem!
Thank you so much for that poem. We are so much more than we think we are in life and death.
Scott, you are most welcome.
That is a wonderful poem!
FYIs last blog post..Those Embarrassing Body Problems (Urinary Incontinence)
Indeed! I like this poem too; it gives a very empowering thought!
Thank you! I like both the English poem and the Chinese translation. Your translation is very beautiful. Have you ever learned Chines? I hope I can give you my help if you need.
@ Beryl, thank you. I am glad that you like the translation of the poem. In Singapore, as Chinese, we do learn Mandarin in the school. Thank you for your offer to help. If I need help in Mandarin, you’ll be the first I will think of 🙂
That is a very beautiful and touching poem and it matches my thoughts exactly today due to someone I know just recently passing away.
Kims last blog post..Very depressing
@ Kim, I know what you mean. I read about it in your blog. He would never be far; he would live in the heart of many.
I like it! Reminds me of the song “Come Sail Away,” by the Styx. Very cool poem. I especially like the line, “I am in a quiet room,” because it takes the sting of loneliness and turns it into something positive. Your posts seem particularly solemn this month. Hope everything was alright 🙂
.-= Ben´s last blog ..Cambodia Motorcycle Diary #3 =-.
@ Ben, at time we do need to touch on topics that are solemn. However, I do hope that people are able to find comfort and strength in this poem.
Thank-you for sharing this powerful and wise poem. We are eternal beings. Graveyards like funerals are for the living not for the dead, for the dead are not there.
.-= Mark´s last blog ..Relationship Maddness: Negative Expectations =-.
@ Mark, indeed, the dead are not there.
That is so beautiful! How much grief we would save ourselves if we could remember that when a loved one passes!
.-= Jenny Ann Fraser´s last blog ..adHd =-.
@ Jenny, it is definitely good to remember this.
The poem was read at both my parents funeral. Popular funeral poem.
.-= Rose´s last blog ..Short Stature- Little People =-.
@ Rose, this poem is quite comforting for people losing their loved ones and that’s probably why it is popular.
a good one indeed.
Thank you Mike for dropping by.