University of Virginia Library

Epitaphs

Dante

Crooning Earth has cradled well
Me that plunged to crypts of Hell,
Me that climbed the heavenly dome,
Wearied out and welcomed home.

Keats

Not “in water,”—but the flood
That with passionate impulse beats!
Every youthful poet's blood
Spells the sacred name of Keats.

A Fool

Stranger, stay! yet shed no tear;
For a fool lies buried here;
Yet, since he unfinished lies,
God in time may make him wise.

A Wise Man

Stranger, weep! Beneath this stone
Lies a man for knowledge known:
Yet, since he was wholly wise,
God forbade him Paradise.

A Fair Woman

In this green chest is laid away
The fairest frock she ever wore;
It clothed her both by night and day,
And none shall wear it evermore.

An Infant

This sweet infant never knew
What a woman's lips can do!
Yet a woman's lips no less
Brought him to this loneliness.

A Wife

Once I learnt in wilful hour
How to vex him; still I keep,
Now unwilfully, my power:
Every day he comes to weep.

A Soul

Underneath this turvéd mould
Lies a creature late unsouled:
Birds of paradise contrive
Ill in crystal cage to thrive.

A Waif

Hither was she brought unknown;
Now to love and knowledge grown,
She has journeyed back alone.

Beaten

In the arms of Death I curled,
Unadjusted to the World:
All too fierce the World has proved,
Because I loved, because I loved.