James The 13th

You know that poem that you have on your profile...the one about "I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight"...? Last year when my cousin passed away I went looking for some kind of grief-easing poetry to give to my aunt (my cousin's mom) to give to the preacher to be read at my cousin's funeral. That was one of the poems I gave to her. And today when I got to work my boss said that one of my coworkers' brother was killed in a car accident last night (so she wouldn't be coming in...the coworker). I'm going in there in the next couple days to give her a sympathy card, and I'm going to be enclosing that poem in the card. Just wanted to thank you in a way for "reminding me" that it exists...and that it's beautiful. It gave me a lot of comfort when my cousin died, so I hope it helps her in some way.

I guess this poem has several slightly different versions. This is the version I have:

A Poem For The Grieving


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?s rain.
When you awaken in the morning?s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there; I did not die.

i like it. it's a good poem.