After My Death

Then if, after my death,
The world is still as cruel,
Stand on my grave with two feet,
And if a flower were to grow,
Next to my stone, 
Step one foot out,
And look upon your peers,
And if you see sadness,
Take the flower from my grave,
And bring it to a stranger,
And if you bring upon that stranger, happiness,
Step the other foot out,
But if the stranger were to walk away,
Pluck the petals, and place them on the soil;
Then if, after my death, 
The world is still as cruel,
Stand on my grave with two feet, 
And if a hummingbird, lands on my stone,
Take the seeds of a fruit,
And place your hand out,
And if the bird eats from your hand,
Step one foot out,
But if the bird rejects the seeds,
Take them and plant them,
For the hungry can eat them,
Then the world could be made less cruel;
Then if, after my death, 
The world is still as cruel,
Stand on my grave with two feet,
But know as you live on,
That each small kind gesture,
Every flower given,
And every seed sown,
Has left a soft imprint on the earth,
For the world may not change,
But our small gestures linger,
And our hopes stay alive,
To pave a kinder path for those to follow.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2026

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Daniel Avatar
July 31, 2026 at 1:54 AM
Touching poem, Gabrielle, welcome to Poetry Soup🙏
Haywood Avatar
July 19, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Gabrielle, you provided heart-warming incentive to people with your poem. I hope that others will take time to understand it. I read the first time, then read it slowly the second so I could absorb your expression about a small, but huge message. By performing small, intentional acts of kindness, we ensure that while the world may continue to be harsh, it will also always contain the evidence that someone once chose to be soft. Well done. - Christopher Haywood
Agustin Avatar
July 17, 2026 at 11:55 PM
Thanks for sharing this... exposing your thoughts through your unique poetic style. Welcome to Poetry Soup. I welcome you with the love of the Lord, expressed by John 3:16 of the Bible, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Be blessed.
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