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!
Ina Donna Coolbrith [1842-1928]
GIVE LOVE TO-DAY
When the lean, gray grasses
Cover me, bury me deep,
No sea wind that passes
Shall break my sleep.
When you come, my lover,
Sorrowful-eyed to me,
Earth mine eyes will cover;
I shall not see.
Though with sad words splendid,
Praising, you call me dear,
It will be all ended;
I shall not hear.
You may live love's riot
Laughingly over my head,
But I shall lie quiet
With the gray dead.
Love, you will not wake me
With all your singing carouse.
Nor your dancing shake me
In my dark house.
Though you should go weeping,
Sorrowful for my sake,
Fain to break my sleeping,
I could not wake.