Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A GRAVESTONE UPON THE FLOOR IN THE CLOISTERS, by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH


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A GRAVESTONE UPON THE FLOOR IN THE CLOISTERS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Miserrimus!' and neither name nor date
Last Line: Softly! -- to save the contrite, jesus bled.
Subject(s): Graves; Epitaphsd


"MISERRIMUS," and neither name nor date,
Prayer, text, or symbol, graven upon the stone;
Nought but that word assigned to the unknown,
That solitary word -- to separate
From all, and cast a cloud around the fate
Of him who lies beneath. Most wretched one,
'Who' chose his epitaph? -- Himself alone
Could thus have dared the grave to agitate,
And claim, among the dead, this awful crown;
Nor doubt that He marked also for his own
Close to these cloistral steps a burial-place,
That every foot might fall with heavier tread,
Trampling upon his vileness. Stranger, pass
Softly! -- To save the contrite, Jesus bled.






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