Lament

  Listen, children:

  Your father is dead.

  From his old coats

  I'll make you little jackets;

  I'll make you little trousers

  From his old pants.

  There'll be in his pockets

  Things he used to put there,

  Keys and pennies

  Covered with tobacco;

  Dan shall have the pennies

  To save in his bank;

  Anne shall have the keys

  To make a pretty noise with.

  Life must go on,

  And the dead be forgotten;

  Life must go on,

  Though good men die;

  Anne, eat your breakfast;

  Dan, take your medicine;

  Life must go on;

  I forget just why.

Composition date is unknown - the above date represents the first publication date.The lyrical form of this poem is unrhyming.