Do not stand at my grave and weep
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Do not stand at my grave and weep is a popular poem, largely considered to be written by Mary Elizabeth Frye (1905-2004), but of disputed origin.
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[edit] Text
An early version, printed by others on postcards:
- 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.
Her later confirmed version:
- Do not stand at my grave and weep,
- I am not there, I do not sleep.
- I am in a thousand winds that blow,
- I am the softly falling snow.
- I am the gentle showers of rain,
- I am the fields of ripening grain.
- I am in the morning hush,
- I am in the graceful rush
- Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
- I am the starshine of the night.
- I am in the flowers that bloom,
- I am in a quiet room.
- I am in the birds that sing,
- I am in each lovely thing.
- Do not stand at my grave and cry,
- I am not there. I do not die.
[edit] Analysis
The poem is made up of six (or sometimes eight) rhyming couplets. Various versions exist but, with the bulk of the work being made up of a selection of images preceded by "I am...", the sense is largely the same. The poem addresses the reader/ audience with the voice of a deceased person, invoking quite spiritual — but not specifically religious — imagery. According to the most generally accepted theory, that of Frye's writing the poem, it was originally addressed to a German Jewish girl, a friend of the author. The girl's mother had died back in her homeland, but returning to pay her respects was not possible and Frye wrote the poem as part of her condolences. The text soothes the addressee, reassuring of the deceased's life after death in both its message and its voice, and as such has become very popular poem, and a common reading for funerals.
[edit] Origins
There is some ambiguity as to the poem's writer, and it was not published by Frye, although she was the only living person to credibly claim its authorship. Frye is near universally cited as the author, and her literary significance is based almost entirely upon it, but other sources, including traditional native American origins, have been suggested over the years.
[edit] A Thousand Winds
Japanese Singer-songwriter Man Arai (singer) translated this poem into Japanese and composed the song entitled "千の風になって" (translation: "A Thousand Winds"), and originally sung by Man Arai himself. Although the album received little to no success, multiple singers began to cover the song, among them, Japanese tenor Masafumi Akikawa. The tenor made the song popular after performing it during the 57th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen on December 31, 2006. In January 2007, it became the first ever classical music piece to top the Oricon weekly singles chart, remaining popular throughout the year, becoming the first ever classical music piece to top the Oricon yearly singles chart of 2007.
- Watashi no ohaka no mae de
- Nakanai de kudasai
- Soko ni watashi wa imasen
- Nemutte nanka imasen
- Sen no kaze ni
- Sen no kaze ni natte
- Ano ooki na sora wo fukiwatatte imasu
- Aki ni wa hikari ni natte
- Hatake ni furisosogu
- Fuyu wa daia no you ni
- Kirameku yuki ni naru
- Asa wa tori ni natte
- Anata wo mezamesaseru
- Yoru wa hoshi ni natte
- Anata wo mimamoru
- Watashi no ohaka no mae de
- Nakanai de kudasai
- Soko ni watashi wa imasen
- Shinde nanka imasen
- Sen no kaze ni
- Sen no kaze ni natte
- Ano ooki na sora wo fukiwatatte imasu
- Sen no kaze ni
- Sen no kaze ni natte
- Ano ooki na sora wo fukiwatatte imasu
- Ano ooki na sora wo
- Fukiwatatte
- Imasu
[edit] Use in popular culture
- Earlier version of poem read at a memorial service in British television drama, Prime Suspect: The Final Act
- Heard in the television series Joan of Arcadia in episode Jump in which a shorter version is recited at character Rocky's funeral
- Heard in the television series Third Watch in episode My Opening Farewell, recited at Alex's funeral.
- A paraphrased version entitled "Alicia's Poem" is available as a quest item in the MMO World of Warcraft, memorializing a player who died of leukemia.
- Cited also in the BBC television series "Judge John Deed". In one of the episodes the judge has to make a decision about the extension of a medical treatment. The boy in question, somewhere in his early teens, doesn't want to continue the treatment, because such treatment has only been made possible by animal testing of the medicins he will receive. His parents, however, want to prolong the treatment, without which, the boy will die. Eventually, the boy dies and the judge cites this poem at his funeral.
- Recited by character Mrs. McCluskey in the American television drama Desperate Housewives, episode "Welcome to Kanagawa", first airing on the ABC network January 6, 2008. The modified version is used just before another drama character, Lynette, scatters the ashes of Ida Greenberg on the baseball field where Ida had executed a triple play as a women's professional ballplayer. That version follows:
- Do not stand at my grave and weep,
- I am not there, I do not sleep.
- I am in a thousand winds that blow,
- I am the diamond glints of snow.
- I am the sunlight in ripen grain.
- I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
- Do not stand at my grave and cry,
- I am not there. I did not die.
- Same as above version began the introduction of "Stephen Lives" by Anne Puryear, attributed as an Indian prayer in memory of a fallen tribe member.
- Cited in the second episode (season 1) of the American cop drama, The Shield.
- Used as the basis for Lizzie West's song Prayer from her album Holy Road: Freedom Songs. This song appeared in Alias Season Two (The Telling)and 3rd Watch
- Earlier version read on Australian soap Home and Away by Cassie Turner at Flynn's funeral
