Death & Dying

An Epicurean's Epitaph

by Aubrey de Vere 1814–1902

Death & Dying

When from my lips the last faint sigh is blown
By Death, dark waver of Lethean plumes,
O! press not then with monumental stone
This forehead smooth nor weigh me down with glooms
From green bowers, grey with dew,
Of Rosemary and Rue.
Choose for my bed some bath of sculptured marble
Wreathed with gay nymphs; and lay me—not alone—
Where sunbeams fall, flowers wave, and light birds warble
To those who loved me murmuring in soft tone,
"Here lies our friend, from pain secure and cold;
And spreads his limbs in peace under the sun-warmed mould!"

MLA

Vere, Aubrey de. “An Epicurean's Epitaph.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/vere_aubrey/21/.

Chicago

Vere, Aubrey de. “An Epicurean's Epitaph.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/vere_aubrey/21/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Aubrey de Vere