183 4 Love and loss 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 sunlight 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 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. UNDERSTANDING 25 Work with the poem a) Who is the speaker, the “I”, in the poem? Who do you imagine this person is talking to? Freewrite for a couple of minutes. b) There are several metaphors in the poem. Which of the metaphors do you like the best? Give reasons for your choice. A metaphor compares by saying one thing is another: The snow is a white blanket. c) Identify the rhyme scheme of the poem and write down words that rhyme. Mary Elizabeth Frye (1905–2004) lived in Baltimore, USA. She wrote the poem “Do Not Stand at my Grave and Weep” on a brown paper bag, but never published it. However, she circulated it to friends and the poem became increasingly famous. increasingly – sífellt meira to weep – gráta a glint – glampi ripened – þroskaður a hush – kyrrð swift – skjótur Hæfniviðmið • Lesið sér til fróðleiks rauntexta af fjöl- breyttum miðlum, brugðist við efni þeirra eða unnið úr þeim á annan hátt.
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