I came across this poem recently in StumbleUpon. It really moved me and I wanted to share it with you.
It is written by Mary Elizabeth Frye.
Mary Elizabeth Frye (Dayton, Ohio, 13 November, 1905 – Baltimore 15 September 2004) was a Baltimore housewife and florist, best known as the author of the poem “Do not stand at my grave and weep,” written in 1932.
She was born Mary Elizabeth Clark, and was orphaned at the age of three. In 1927 she married Claud Frye.
The identity of the author of the poem was unknown until the late 1990s, when Frye revealed that she had written it. Her claim was later proven by Abigail Van Buren. Her poem was also used in the one of the Norwegian protocols, to express condolences for the the sorrow that struck the country July 22nd, 2011. – Wikipedia
Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep
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 glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s 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 cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
Photo Credits
I liked this poem so much that I’ve made a translation to portuguese to post on facebook…Thank you for posting it!
Hmmmmm…How is it possible that whenever something is needed the universe provides it for us? My name is Heidi and 9 years ago I glued that poem to my 6 year old son’s memory board which I displayed two-days later at his funeral. Strangely enough, his birthday was the 6th of this month and after 9 years I chose to scatter his ashes. This year is the hardest yet and I’m not sure why, exactly but I just think as a parent you can pretend he’s just at daycare or on some kind of vacation cause reality is just too painful sometimes. Then after 9 years you can’t live in la la land anymore and it’s time to face the pain.
I noticed recently that unlike others I’ve lost my son has not faded away and I talk about him every single day. Therefore I felt able to let go of his ashes this year. I never thought I’d be able to find a perfect enough location, then it came to me… Alex loved music. It was literally what he lived for, well that, his mom and Blues Clues!!! lol. So since I live in Colorado we are blessed with RedRocks Ampitheatre in Morrison. I went there on his would be 15th birthday and found the perfect piece of serenity I could give him. Now he can be a part of the music he loved so much. I wonder if we could all be more like him what this world would be like…he smiled every day of his life. He even smiled when he drew his last breath. God I miss him.
Hello Heidi,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this beautiful comment. I am so sorry for your loss …
I am sure that Alex is still smiling every day and that he is thrilled with your decision to give him a such a great place to listen to music.
Warm thoughts sent your way Heidi …
Cheers,
Gil
I’m a funeral director and we use this poem on our service stationary all the time.
It’s quite beautiful.
Very realistic and poetic at the same time,beautiful lines.
They read this poem at my grandad’s funeral and now we have it framed on a table with all the pics of family and friends we have lost, its such a beautiful poem and provides a glimmer of hope in our darkest times.
Yes, I agree, I came upon it years ago, and loved it. It has inspired me to write more poems.
this is no doubt my favorite poem in the world it was my grandpas favorite also he died three years ago
This poem was the one chosen for my aunt’s funeral program in 2006
Absolutely lovely poem! I love simple, poignant poetry like this–especially read aloud. Many thanks for unearthing this gem to the StumbleUpon community!
thanks for sharing this. it reminded me of my best friend who had taken her life.
Great site Gil, thanks! I am going to follow for awhile. Be well always.
Signed, ED
Thanks Ed!
Glad you like it 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Cheers,
Gil
This poem is on a plaque which stands about a hundred feet from my brother Alan’s gravesite. His Birthday was the 23rd of this month and I visited him 4 states away from where I now live and read this plaque as I always do. When I found this today I felt like he was here looking over my shoulder and letting me know that he’s thinking of me too.
Hi Bonnie,
Thank you for sharing that beautiful thought with us!
I hope you have a wonderful week 🙂
Cheers,
Gil
Hi! This is the first time I have seen this in print! I first saw it on a gravestone in a Episcopalian church yard on someone’s grave. I thought it was beautiful so I snapped a photo of it. My mother passed away 10 years ago this year so it reminded me greatly of her. It brought tears to my eyes, thanks for posting it here! I miss her everyday and still believe she had a way of protecting me upon her death from the hurt. Of course she was a great mom so she fulfilled her job till the end.
Henrietta …
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment.
My heart goes out to you and I believe you are right about your mom protecting you.
I am so glad you found us!
Smile always!
Cheers,
Gil
I sang this last semester in my college choir! 🙂
This poem bears a kind of truth in it, I believe. It’s a little like the rock in the river. The butterfly theory, and ultimately: Entropy.
Apart from that it is a beautiful poem.
This poem has stumbled for me numerous times since my close friend took his own life. It has given me great comfort, and I take it as a little sign each time thanks 🙂
Hello Sho 🙂
I am glad it brings light into your life. Thanks for leaving a comment!
Cheers,
Gil
This poem was recited at my grandmother’s funeral. Everytime I see it or hear it, I think of her.
Hi Jessica 🙂 I hope that all your memories are good ones!
Thank you for this poem today. Our Annie would have been 31 today.
Hugs to you Diana … thanks for taking the time to comment 🙂
Hey Gil, I am from India, and I am deeply thankful to you for sharing this with the world.
God Bless Thee.
Thank you Ruchir!
Many blessings to you as well 🙂
i first read this a couple years ago when my girlfriend did some research over the poem for her english class, very beautiful indeed, i read it on my twin sister’s funeral a week ago, it’s amazing how out of something as sad as losing someone you love the author was able to write something with so much hope in it, thanks for sharing it
Storm ..
I am so sorry for your loss.
All my very best wishes to you ….
Gil
I found this poem a few months ago, also on Stumbleupon and I immediately proceeded to saving it on my iPod and posting it to my Tumblr, Twitter, and Facebook accounts. I’ve also told my family and friends that at the time of my death, this should be the poem that they inscribe on my headstone. Thank you for sharing this. 🙂
Hi Heylts 🙂
Thanks for leaving a comment and for sharing this with others. I hope your headstone is MANY MANY years away!
Such a wonderful poem.
:'(
A BEAUTIFUL poem in a poignant way.How lovely!
touching
There is a band called Villagers who do a lovely rendition of this poem!
I also stummbled upon this the day of a great loss. A fellow classmate of mine took his life with his own hands and I shall pray for him and his family that they will not stand at his grave and weep.
Hugs to you Taylor … I am sorry for your loss 🙁
This is inscribed on my little brothers head stone, he found it in on another headstone and wrote it down. He gave it to our mother and told her he wanted it on his tombstone, she told him to stop being creepy he wasn’t going to die any time soon. About a week latter he died in a car accident.
Nate …
I am so very very sorry. Thank you for sharing this with us …
My heart goes out to you Nate …
Gil
this is the poem I used on the prayer cards for my daughter’s funeral. She was 30 and killed in a auto accident! It brought much comfort to me!
Thanks for sharing this poem. It is such an uplifting reminder of the strength of good memories and connection of spirit.
no way, i stumbled upon this poem too (about a week ago) and now i stumbled upon this page 🙂 <3 i liked the poem too!
Thank you, on April 21 2007 my dad passed away of a heart attack. I was on stumble upon tonight and i stumbled into this page, this is not the first time this poem has popped up but i always take it as a “hi” from my dad. so thank you for passing his greeting onto me!
FYI this was the poem on his card thingys, i picked it out.
did you know that this is a stumbleupon page 🙂
Hi Lucy,
Indeed … but many of our readers do not use SU and I wanted to share this with them 🙂
Cheers,
Gil
i stumbled upon this page too!
There is a beautiful choral composition of this poem that my high school’s advanced choir performed last year, here is a gorgeous recording of the piece off of youtube (but not my choir): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJS9h09yGEY
I also sang it at my grandmother’s funeral last May because it was the last concert of mine she went to before she passed suddenly, RIP <3
Whoops, just read up the comments a bit and saw that someone beat me to it! Darn! AND they posted the same link! Nevermind then [:
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for your comment and for the link. No matter that someone else posted it. We appreciate that you would take the time to leave a comment! I am sorry for you loss …
Have a great day 🙂
My grandma has this on her headstone… very powerful poem! I miss her!
Hi Nessa,
That’s very cool! It will no doubt touch many 🙂
Hi Charlotte, Taylor, Moxie And Charlotte,
Thank you all for leaving a comment and sharing your hearts 🙂
I am so sorry for your losses and wish you all much light and joy!
Let us spread harmony and peace with this soul.Let shooting and killing be stopped,knowing that our soul when it leaves our mortal body has no hatred or revenge but peace and calmness.We fight and kill for small matters and cause burden to our soul.We mar the happiness of the soul with our anger,strife and selfishness.Let us read this poem to control our negative emotions and spread harmony.This will help our soul to fly high in happiness.
my grandfather recently passed away and although the family was prepared it was still a horrible shock. my aunt was incredibly close to her father. at his funeral she asked me to stand with her as she read this poem, so if she couldnt finish it, i could assist her. when it came to it i was crying too much to do anything but stand by her. one of my most potent memories will always be how strong her words were and how beautifully this incredible poem en-captured all the people who loved my grandfather. thank you for posting this and reminding me of the love and pain of losing him.
yes, I lost my soulmate some 8 yr ago…funerals are for the peeps left behind..I hate to lose him forever…and about to lose my Mom..although, she may outlive me…happy outcomes…I can only hope and pray for that….if she outlives me…I only hope her wishes are fulfilled….I am not the judge of things or the executioner…I am a witness..for long as I might live to accomplish her desires…
love
Moxie…
my grandpa said this poem at my great grandma’s funeral (his mom).
very moving, thanks for posting this.
reminds me of her
<3
If any of you can find a recording of Howard Goodall’s ‘Eternal Light’ this text is put very well to music for choir! I recommend a listen.
Hi Shane,
Thanks. I will look for it for sure!
Cheers,
Gil
I stumbled upon this site. I thought you’d like to know that I used to sing as a part of a show choir. This poem was actually incorporated into song and is actually more beautiful set music. The version I have is entitled “In remembrance” and the music is by Eleanor Daley. It can be easily found but the following link is to a good performance of the song. Hope this helps you enjoy the day!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJS9h09yGEY
Hi Alex,
Thank you! We are so glad you found us. What a lovely video! A little later today, I will embed it right in the article and mention that you pointed it out!
Have a great rest of your week.
Cheers,
Gil
There is another version simply called “Do not stand at my grave and weep.”. completely different version, not as good as in remembrance but i may be bias 🙂
I love this poem. I recited it at my grandpa’s funeral a year plus some ago. It’s a great poem.
Now that is poetry.
purely beautiful poetry…. i love this poem its my favorite…
I read this poem back in high school, and I loved it then and still love it now. I love the history behind this poem and the back ground information about the author, did you happen to look those up? It’s an interesting thing to know, in my opinion.
I also stumbled this 😉
I failed to read the information you gave before the poem, that tends to happen when I am scanning the website while stumbling. glad to see you researched a bit about the origins of this poem 🙂
Thanks Jessica 🙂
And THANKS for the stumble! The history is fascinating and I wanted to be sure there were a few links that readers could follow to learn more.
Have a great week!
I love this poem. It was printed on the memorial cards for my gradma’s funeral a couple of years back. I can’t read it without tears though.
Appropriate today…a friend of mine passed away by his own hand. Sad beyond words, and no, I will not stand at his grave and cry, but I will remember in the falling autumn rain that we pass this way but once and in the way of things as I see them, shall no more pass this way again.
Hi Michael,
I am so sorry for your loss. Hugs to you my friend ….
Son, this is one of my preferred poems for later on.
Thank you for printing it for others to share.
Hi mom,
Pleasure! It’s a great poem 🙂
This is also a chorus arrangement. My senior class sang it for a concert.
In my yearbook from 1972 , this poem was dedicated to a couple of frriends who died in the senior year of high school , It was listed as ” anonymous “. thank you for sharing this poems real author !