I Am Not There

I Am Not There

My friend Joan has been a widow for 38 years. One night while talking she mentioned that she has never been to her husband's grave. I couldn't understand why so I questioned her. "Why Not"?

She went to her study and returned with a piece of paper, yellowed with age. She told me that her husband had given her this shortly before he died. There was no name of the paper or date that this was published into. She told me to read it and I would know why she doesn't visit his grave. These are the words I read.

I Am Not There

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 sunshine on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumns rain

When you awake in the morning hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush,
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there. I did not die.

Robert Hepburn.

I had tears in my eyes, as I had never read words
that touched me as much as the words of the poem.

Please read the history of this poem, sent to me by Pen In Hand Thank you so much Michelle, and please check out her port.
Below is the history of this poem.{/c]

Now I appreciate you sharing this poem and the story of how you came across it. This poem has had a lot of controversy surrounding it as there are many versions and many claims to it's origin.



> The original version is:


Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am in a thousand winds that blow,

I am the softly falling snow.

I am the gentle showers of rain,

I am the fields of ripening grain.

I am in the morning hush,

I am in the graceful rush

Of beautiful birds in circling flight,

I am the star shine of the night.

I am in the flowers that bloom,

I am in a quiet room.

I am in the birds that sing,

I am in each lovely thing.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there. I did not die.



the author is Mary Elizabeth Frye (1904-2004). She wrote it when her best friend,
Margaret Scharzkopf's parents died in 1932. The Federal Printing Press produced a
postcard for the friends of Ms. Scharzkopf's parents and attendants of the funeral
services.



The following verses were added by Wilbur Skeels in 1996.



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!



(Copyright) text by Wilbur Skeels