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Poem
March 6, 1840
Republican Herald
Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
A speaker outlines their final burial wishes: an open-air grave under a green tree with rosemary, in nature away from enclosed tombs and vermin, rejecting pompous funerals and hypocrisy, seeking only simple tears and flowers, honoring their poetic gift from Apollo.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Poetry.
A LAST WISH.
When the blood shall quit my heart,
When my spirit shall depart,
And these eyes no longer see;
When the bright thoughts no more come
Like the sunlight in a room;
Lay me gently on the tomb.
Lay me in the open air,
Underneath some grassy mound,
Where the wild bee's murmurs are,
And the green leaves round.
And as I shall view the spot
From my dwelling place afar
Be no ritual forgot,
Nothing left my rest to mar.
And that there may be some shade
Where my mouldering bones are laid,
Let there be
Over me
One green tree,
Circled round with rosemary.
I abhor the close abode.
Where the spider and the rat,
And the spirit-chilling toad,
And the harpy-winged bat,
Disrespect the solemn stones
That imprison dead men's bones.
I believe I could not sleep
Where such things their vigils keep.
And another cause I have
For a heaven-covered
grave;
From Apollo unto me
Came the gift of poesy;
Therefore when my life is done,
Let him shine upon his son.
I want no funeral show,
Prancing steed and nodding plume;
Nor of hypocritic woe
The detested gloom:
Nor followers in dark disguise,
With white kerchiefs at their eyes,
Acting scenes of obsequies.
Nor give me what vain glory rears,
Nor aught by money bought;
Nothing I ask, no friend I ask
Beyond a few kind tears;
Strew flowers and give me these,
And I shall rest at ease.
A LAST WISH.
When the blood shall quit my heart,
When my spirit shall depart,
And these eyes no longer see;
When the bright thoughts no more come
Like the sunlight in a room;
Lay me gently on the tomb.
Lay me in the open air,
Underneath some grassy mound,
Where the wild bee's murmurs are,
And the green leaves round.
And as I shall view the spot
From my dwelling place afar
Be no ritual forgot,
Nothing left my rest to mar.
And that there may be some shade
Where my mouldering bones are laid,
Let there be
Over me
One green tree,
Circled round with rosemary.
I abhor the close abode.
Where the spider and the rat,
And the spirit-chilling toad,
And the harpy-winged bat,
Disrespect the solemn stones
That imprison dead men's bones.
I believe I could not sleep
Where such things their vigils keep.
And another cause I have
For a heaven-covered
grave;
From Apollo unto me
Came the gift of poesy;
Therefore when my life is done,
Let him shine upon his son.
I want no funeral show,
Prancing steed and nodding plume;
Nor of hypocritic woe
The detested gloom:
Nor followers in dark disguise,
With white kerchiefs at their eyes,
Acting scenes of obsequies.
Nor give me what vain glory rears,
Nor aught by money bought;
Nothing I ask, no friend I ask
Beyond a few kind tears;
Strew flowers and give me these,
And I shall rest at ease.
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Nature Seasons
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Last Wish
Burial
Open Grave
Nature
Poesy
Simple Funeral
Hypocrisy
Poem Details
Title
A Last Wish.
Subject
Last Wish For Burial
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas
Key Lines
Lay Me In The Open Air, Underneath Some Grassy Mound, Where The Wild Bee's Murmurs Are, And The Green Leaves Round.
Let There Be Over Me One Green Tree, Circled Round With Rosemary.
From Apollo Unto Me Came The Gift Of Poesy; Therefore When My Life Is Done, Let Him Shine Upon His Son.
I Want No Funeral Show, Prancing Steed And Nodding Plume; Nor Of Hypocritic Woe The Detested Gloom:
Strew Flowers And Give Me These, And I Shall Rest At Ease.