I love the indentations and line breaks of the original when first published:
Do not stand
By my grave, and weep.
I am not there,
I do not sleep—
I am the thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints in snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle, autumn rain.
As you awake with morning’s hush,
I am the swift, up-flinging rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight,
I am the day transcending night.
Do not stand
By my grave, and cry—
I am not there,
I did not die.
![[thread] Do not stand at my grave and weep](https://mander.xyz/pictrs/image/ba52f433-196a-4d7e-afd4-c3c72d5471d3.jpeg){kind=link}
I love the indentations and line breaks of the original when first published:
Do not stand
By my grave, and weep.
I am not there,
I do not sleep—
I am the thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints in snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle, autumn rain.
As you awake with morning’s hush,
I am the swift, up-flinging rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight,
I am the day transcending night.
Do not stand
By my grave, and cry—
I am not there,
I did not die.
— Clare Harner, The Gypsy, December 1934
This is what my mother wants me to remember her by when she goes.
It hurts.
I’m so so so sorry to hear that.
I hope you can find some warmth in knowing, ahead of time, a poem that means a lot to her and that you can hold on to and always remember her by.
My heart goes out to you.