Annie Lander Poet Dramatic Verse

The Burden of this life

Do not stand at my grave and weep.  
My dear children, understand this:  
I lived a full 92 years,  
yet you chose to stay away and act as if I didn’t exist.  
I was always here; I never left your side.  
I provided for you,  
nurturing you through the toughest times.  

I protected you from the harshness of the world,  
the world I must now depart.  

Loneliness, heartbreak, and the burdens of this life—  
as wet snow seeps into my old brown boots,  
I count all seven of you,  
lost in your bowls of soup.  
I was there, silently watching.  
Do not stand at my grave and weep.  

For thirty long years, my children turned away.  
Even an evening of hymns and prayers  
could never repair the distance;  
this is the conclusion of my journey.  

Do not stand at my grave and cry.  
Instead, find shelter from the storm.  
Let the clouds grieve for me  
while rivers and ravens offer their solemn respect.  
Do horses fear the rain and thunder?  

Do not stand at my grave and weep.  
The fog wraps around my grave like a soft, white veil.  
No more prayers, no more tears.

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