Journal Entry (Fri Feb 4, 2022)
Digging through a book on woodworking that was one of my favorites (I presume also one of the favorites of my Dad) I found the following poem. I know it is from my Dad because of the hand-writing on the envelope. My Dad copied this poem and gave it to his children (myself and my two sisters) upon the death of our mother…
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond that glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awake in the morning, hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft star that shines at night.”
Do not stand at my grave and cry,”
I am not there, I did not die.”
My Mother (or Father on her behalf) added the following epilogue to the poem:
“This is a memorial to my children, so you know I will always be with you. Take care of yourselves, your children and grandchildren, and always be happy. Be kind to others. That is my wish for you.”
I suspect these words were from my mother, recorded for her by my father. Even though I’m not certain which one penned the epilogue, it is a testimony to their love, regardless of the source.
I tucked the letter back into the book. I now know that’s where it belongs, as well as on this page and in my heart. I do not think of my mother and father on a daily basis, but I am definitely their living embodiment. I hope when our essence is joined again, we can continue our journey in this universe together.
_ Mary Elizabeth Frye, a Baltimore housewife, has been acknowledged, as the true author of the well-known bereavement verse “Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep.” This famous verse has brought comfort to mourners throughout the world for the past 70 years._