Dear Readers, it has been a woodland-y kind of week, and so today I thought I’d share this poem by Pam Ayres. She’s much better known for her whimsical, comic poetry, but I found this unexpectedly touching. Plus, when it comes to burial, this would work for me too (though hopefully not for a while). See what you think…
Woodland Burial by Pam Ayres
Don’t lay me in some gloomy churchyard shaded by a wall
Where the dust of ancient bones has spread a dryness over all,
Lay me in some leafy loam where, sheltered from the cold
Little seeds investigate and tender leaves unfold.
There kindly and affectionately, plant a native tree
To grow resplendent before God and hold some part of me.
The roots will not disturb me as they wend their peaceful way
To build the fine and bountiful, from closure and decay.
To seek their small requirements so that when their work is done
I’ll be tall and standing strongly in the beauty of the sun.
This IS a beautiful poem!
I am torn, because I love graveyards, and visit at least one wherever I travel, if there is one. Of course, American graveyards are ugly things compared to those in the UK; designed more for convenience of mowing than anything. I would be fine buried in a wild graveyard, like one I visited in Ludlow. But yes, in the US, I would rather a natural woodland burial, in a shroud. Thankfully, that is more available these days.
Yes, it’s a beautiful poem, and it shows how good Pam’s writing is. But the word is wend, not went. The roots wend their peaceful way.
You’re right! I’ll amend. Thanks Laraine.