University of Virginia Library


83

HIC JACET

Did you play here child
The whole spring through
And smiled and smiled
And never knew?—
Where the shade is cool
And the grass grows deep,
One that was beautiful
Lies in his sleep.
Ah no child, never
Will he arise,
The sleep was for ever
That closed his eyes.
And his bed is strewn
Deep underground,
He was tired so soon,
And now sleeps sound.

84

When the first birds sing
We can hear them, dear,
And in early spring
There are snowdrops here.
For the flowers love him
That lies below,
And ever above him
The daisies grow.
“Shall we look down deep
Where he hides away?
Shall we find him asleep?”
Yes child, some day.
But his palace gate
Is so hard to see,
We two must wait
For the angel's key.