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 circling 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.
This poem offers comfort to those mourning, suggesting that the deceased lives on through nature and in the memories of the living. It was penned by Mary Elizabeth Frye, who never published it formally, yet it resonated deeply with many.