Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, NOT A GREEN WILLOW, by JOSEPHINE WINSLOW JOHNSON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

NOT A GREEN WILLOW, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Not a green willow, veiled to hide her weeping,
Last Line: Rest after labor, quiet after strife!
Subject(s): Grief; Rest; Trees; Sorrow; Sadness


Not a green willow, veiled to hide her weeping,
Not a slim aspen, trembling and afraid,
Not a white birch tree, beautiful and lonely --
Let none of these be planted at my head.
I would forget, when I at last am sleeping,
All that these are mourning in solitude and tears,
I would have done with memory, and only
Rest in hushed peace throughout the uncaring years.

Give me an oak, by bitter storms unriven,
Earth-rooted deep, but striving towards the stars,
Fearless and tender, in the gray dusk weaving
Shadowy cloaks to cover ancient scars.
There let me lie, and know that death has given
All that I sought and never found in life --
Strength for a shelter, solace for long grieving,
Rest after labor, quiet after strife!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net