Requiescat

TREAD lightly, she is near

                    Under the snow,

                  Speak gently, she can hear

                    The daisies grow.

                  All her bright golden hair

                    Tarnished with rust,

                  She that was young and fair

                    Fallen to dust.

                  Lily-like, white as snow,

                    She hardly knew                                  

                  She was a woman, so

                    Sweetly she grew.

                  Coffin-board, heavy stone,

                    Lie on her breast,

                  I vex my heart alone

                    She is at rest.

                  Peace, Peace, she cannot hear

                    Lyre or sonnet,

                  All my life's buried here,

                    Heap earth upon it.                              

                  AVIGNON.