Do not dare carve my name on some cold stone <br />When I am gone; I shall not sleep for long, <br />Though flesh may rot and moulder in my grave, <br />Since, unconstrained by space and time and shape, <br />I shall fly free, as drifting snowflakes swirl <br />Or thistledown floats on the summer air <br />To rest a moment in the memory, <br />Then fade to silence, transient as woe <br />When teardrops dry to dust in laughter’s sun <br />But still remembered in their salty glow. <br /> <br />Do not dare carve my name on some cold stone <br />When I am gone, I’ll write my name myself: <br />Around the corner of some country lane; <br />Across the street; upon a folded page; <br />In the next room; beyond the half-closed door, <br />But if you look for me, I’ll not be there, <br />For fresh new destinations call me on <br />To reach for shining stars in death’s dark night. <br />But breathe that word and I’ll return so swift <br />To take my place in recollection’s light.<br /><br />C Richard Miles<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/do-not-dare-carve-my-name/
