Yndlings

FUNERAL BLUES by W.H. Auden

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He is Dead.
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one,
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun,
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the woods;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

—

DO NOT STAND AT MY GRAVE AND CRY by Mary Elizabeth Frye

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 glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am the song that will never end.
I am the love of family and friend.
I am the child who has come to rest
In the arms of the Father who knows him best.

When you see the sunset fair,
I am the scented evening air.
I am the joy of a task well done.
I am the glow of the setting sun.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.

Do not stand at my grave and cry. I am not there, I did not die..!

—

MY WISH by Unknown

If the day should come when I’m in pain,
And you know I won’t be well again
Promise you’ll do what must be done
If this is the battle that can’t be won.

It’ll break your heart, but please be kind,
Don’t let your grieving sway your mind
For this is when you’ll let me see
Just how much you do love me.

Together we’ve had happy years
The future now can hold no fears
Please don’t let me suffer- so
When that day comes, please let me go.

For my usual vet please will you send?
But stay with me until the end…
Hold me steady, speak to me
Till my bright eyes no longer see.

In time I hope you’ll come to see,
It’s the last kindness you’ll do for me.
One more time please stroke my mane
And know that I’ll have no more pain.

And don’t be sad that it was you
Who decided this was what to do,
We’ve been such buddies through the years
Don’t let me be the cause of tears….

You’ll always see me graze now,
with the sun upon my back
Painful limbs won’t tire me now,
however long the hack.

I live now in your heart and mind,
a lovely place to stay.
And what you have in memories,
no one can take away.