William Allingham (1824-1889). III. One's Own Tombstone. Hunt and Lee, comps. 1867. The Book of the Sonnet

Hunt and Lee, comps. The Book of the Sonnet. 1867.

III. One’s Own Tombstone

By William Allingham (1824–1889)


IN dream of thought to be among the years
That are not born, like years of long ago,
Who bows not, trembling? Dusk, with steps as slow
As mine, crept through the churchyard, dropping tears
Like one that mourned. I mused and mused;—methought	5
Some months, some years were gone, and in that spot
Of graves is lingering a thoughtful boy.
Amid the twilight stillness, deep and lone,
He stoops, to read an old half-buried stone,
And weeds the mosses that almost destroy	10
The letters of the name, which is—my own.
The wind about the old gray tower makes moan.
He rises from the grave with saddened brow,
And leaves it to the night, and sighs, as I do now.