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1850–1919

LOVE'S BURIAL

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Let us clear a little space, And make Love a burial-place. He is dead, dear, as you see, And he wearies you and me.

Growing heavier, day by day, Let us bury him, I say. Wings of dead white butterflies, These shall shroud him, as he lies

In his casket rich and rare, Made of finest maiden-hair. With the pollen of the rose Let us his white eyelids close.

Put the rose thorn in his hand, Shorn of leaves — you understand. Let some holy water fall On his dead face, tears of gall -

As we kneel to him and say, “Dreams to dreams,” and turn away. Those gravediggers, Doubt, Distrust, They will lower him to the dust.

Let us part here with a kiss - You go that way, I go this. Since we buried Love to-day We will walk a separate way.

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LOVE'S BURIAL · Ella Wheeler Wilcox · Poetry Cove