Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, NEW ENGLAND GRAVEYARD, by HORTENSE KING FLEXNER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

NEW ENGLAND GRAVEYARD, by                    
First Line: As a pale cypher set among the weeds
Last Line: "dear husband"", ""virtuous wife"", ""son lost at sea""."
Subject(s): Cemeteries; Death; Widows & Widowers; Graveyards; Dead, The


As a pale cypher set among the weeds,
The rooted tombstone still repeats the names
No man will know. Granite is less than deeds
That were not quite enough to make just claims
On a world's attention, over-taxed and tired.
Here, as in life, they make their gesture—fail.
Sweet Mrs. Mercy, Hepzibah inspired
By what high motives that have left no trail.
The gray stones slant, grass hides the deep-cut date
That would not matter if it stood out clear;
And yet this uttered pride has its own weight,
As if obscurity gained substance here,
And darkness fame, in those content to be
"Dear husband", "virtuous wife", "son lost at sea".





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