St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

The nation's favourite verse?

Diocesan e-mail correspondence would seem to indicate that the following, sometimes heard at funerals, is one of the nation's favourite pieces of poetry:

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.

What would Jesus have thought? Here's a guess, based on one of the stories he told (Luke 16:19-31). I guess it won't ever be the nation's favourite poetry!

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
it's far too late for straying sheep.
I thought that life was here and now,
I wanted riches, lots of wow!

A poor man laid near to my gate,
I didn't know neglect meant hate,
I never meant to do him harm
when I had shirts, and he bare arm.

But now he's gone to Abram's breast,
while I, no different from the rest,
am in this furnace, where it's hot.
And did I want this? I did not!

"O Abram, send that man," I cried,
"to cool my tongue, for it is fried!"
" 'Fraid not," the patriarch replied,
"you should have thought, before you died!

"Between the two of us, down deep,
a great big chasm, broad and steep,
is fixed; and none from here or there
can cross that gap. It's only fair:

"On earth you had the bible, lad,
which warned you of an end quite bad.
But did you learn? You thought that death
was just the absence of your breath.

"And now God's justice-time has come.
He would have saved you by his Son.
He wanted you to live with him.
But you ignored him, in your sin!"

"Then Abram, send him back to earth,"
I cried, "to tell folk what it's worth
to turn to Jesus while there's time,
so they don't feel this burning lime!"

"I'm sorry, son," he said to me,
"They've got the bible. Let them see.
In truth, they'll even shake their head
if someone rises from the dead!"

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I'm finished now, I'm in too deep.
My body's gone in wind and rain.
My spirit longs to live again.

Remember Moses, while you live,
Take notice of the prophets! Give
attention to the Son of Man.
Don't end up here, like what I am!

John Hartley

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. October 2003, Page 11.
Home Page. Index of articles. Hymns / Poems: index Gabriel, Simeon, Pentecost, Pentecost 2, Do not stand. In this issue: (October 2003) Alpha, In the news, Egyptian Harvest, Conditional Aid? Finances, Poem.	The nation's favourite verse? Diocesan e-mail correspondence would seem to indicate that the following, sometimes heard at funerals, is one of the nation's favourite pieces of poetry: 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. What would Jesus have thought? Here's a guess, based on one of the stories he told (Luke 16:19-31). I guess it won't ever be the nation's favourite poetry! Do not stand at my grave and weep, it's far too late for straying sheep. I thought that life was here and now, I wanted riches, lots of wow! A poor man laid near to my gate, I didn't know neglect meant hate, I never meant to do him harm when I had shirts, and he bare arm. But now he's gone to Abram's breast, while I, no different from the rest, am in this furnace, where it's hot. And did I want this? I did not! "O Abram, send that man," I cried, "to cool my tongue, for it is fried!" " 'Fraid not," the patriarch replied, "you should have thought, before you died! "Between the two of us, down deep, a great big chasm, broad and steep, is fixed; and none from here or there can cross that gap. It's only fair: "On earth you had the bible, lad, which warned you of an end quite bad. But did you learn? You thought that death was just the absence of your breath. "And now God's justice-time has come. He would have saved you by his Son. He wanted you to live with him. But you ignored him, in your sin!" "Then Abram, send him back to earth," I cried, "to tell folk what it's worth to turn to Jesus while there's time, so they don't feel this burning lime!" "I'm sorry, son," he said to me, "They've got the bible. Let them see. In truth, they'll even shake their head if someone rises from the dead!" Do not stand at my grave and weep. I'm finished now, I'm in too deep. My body's gone in wind and rain. My spirit longs to live again. Remember Moses, while you live, Take notice of the prophets! Give attention to the Son of Man. Don't end up here, like what I am! John Hartley
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