Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE SECRET MOURNER, by ROSELLE MERCIER MONTGOMERY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SECRET MOURNER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: With all the others to the church I come
Last Line: And they all know—who grieve in secret so!
Subject(s): Mourning; Bereavement


WITH all the others to the church I come,
And quietly I sit here with the rest;
My flowers do not lie upon your breast;
I do not weep—my heart is cold and numb!

I wear no badge of mourning livery—
Oft I have mocked the panoply of woe!
But now I crave its shield, for now—I know!
The right to wear it would seem dear to me!

Yes, if I could but cover up my face—
If I could weep behind a kindly veil!
But, no, I must not weep—I must not fail!
So, tearlessly, I sit here in my place!

The organ throbs in mourning melody;
How strange, how strange that it should be—for you!
I try to make myself believe it true
And try to think what life will be to me!

"How will she bear her grief?" they whisper low,
Those who sit near, in friendly sympathy,
But all their kindly words are not for me—
They must not look upon my face—and know!

The perfume of the flowers comes to me;
As in a dream I hear the service read—
The old, old words the church says o'er the dead:
"O Death, where is thy sting—where, Grave, they victory?"

I could cry out, for, oh, I know, I know!
The sting of Death is mine—I wear its thorn
Deep in my heart, who lack the right to mourn!
And they all know—who grieve in secret so!





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