Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FORGOTTEN, by BERTYE YOUNG WILLIAMS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FORGOTTEN, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Beneath the great pine tree we rest
Last Line: None other than elizabeth.
Alternate Author Name(s): Williams, B. Y.
Subject(s): Death; Funerals; Dead, The; Burials


Beneath the great pine tree we rest,
Dear John, Elizabeth and I --
(I think I really loved him best),
Elizabeth was first to die,

And then I came. I knew his heart
Was in the green mound on the hill;
But I was glad to have a part
In caring for his comfort still.

And did he learn to love me some?
I never knew. With his last breath
He smiled and said his time had come
To sleep beside Elizabeth.

I kept their graves, and still lived on,
Until I too was called; and so
The neighbors buried me by John --
I had no other place to go.

And here we've lain for many years.
The hill is now a pasture field
In strangers' hands; nobody clears
The sunken mounds by weeds concealed.

The clumsy cows above us tread
To gain the friendly pine tree's shade.
I shudder in my narrow bed,
A little lonesome and afraid!

I'd like to reach my hand to John,
But I am held by more than death --
I fear to learn he thinks upon
None other than Elizabeth.





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