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Poem
September 28, 1877
The State Journal
Jefferson City, Cole County, Missouri
What is this article about?
A lyrical poem contemplating the speaker's death, where grass covers her grave, and she anticipates her beloved recognizing her kindness and truthfulness too late, with nature pleading her cause.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
WHEN THE GRASS SHALL COVER ME
When the grass shall cover me,
Head to foot, where I am lying;
When not any wind that blows,
Summer blooms or winter snows,
Shall awake me to your sighing:
Close above me as you pass,
You will say, "How kind she was,"
You will say, "How true she was,"
When the grass grows over me.
When the grass shall cover me,
Holden close to earth's warm bosom;
While I laugh, or weep, or sing
Nevermore, for any thing;
You will find in blade and blossom,
Sweet, small voices, odorous,
Tender pleaders in my cause,
That shall speak me as I was—
When the grass grows over me.
When the grass shall cover me!
Ah, beloved, in my sorrow
Very patient, I can wait—
Knowing that, or soon or late,
There will dawn a clearer morrow,
When your heart will moan, "Alas!
Now I know how true she was:
Now I know how dear she was,"
When the grass grows over me.
Transcript.
When the grass shall cover me,
Head to foot, where I am lying;
When not any wind that blows,
Summer blooms or winter snows,
Shall awake me to your sighing:
Close above me as you pass,
You will say, "How kind she was,"
You will say, "How true she was,"
When the grass grows over me.
When the grass shall cover me,
Holden close to earth's warm bosom;
While I laugh, or weep, or sing
Nevermore, for any thing;
You will find in blade and blossom,
Sweet, small voices, odorous,
Tender pleaders in my cause,
That shall speak me as I was—
When the grass grows over me.
When the grass shall cover me!
Ah, beloved, in my sorrow
Very patient, I can wait—
Knowing that, or soon or late,
There will dawn a clearer morrow,
When your heart will moan, "Alas!
Now I know how true she was:
Now I know how dear she was,"
When the grass grows over me.
Transcript.
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Love Courtship
What keywords are associated?
Death
Grass Grave
Beloved Remembrance
Kindness Truth
Posthumous Regret
Poem Details
Title
When The Grass Shall Cover Me
Key Lines
When The Grass Shall Cover Me,
You Will Say, "How Kind She Was,"
You Will Say, "How True She Was,"
When The Grass Grows Over Me.
Now I Know How True She Was:
Now I Know How Dear She Was,