He stood before the sons of Heth, <br />And bowed his sorrowing head; <br />"I've come," he said, "to buy a place <br />Where I may lay my dead. <br /> <br />"I am a stranger in your land, <br />My home has lost its light; <br />Grant me a place where I may lay <br />My dead away from sight." <br /> <br />Then tenderly the sons of Heth <br />Gazed on the mourner's face, <br />And said, "Oh, Prince, amid our dead, <br />Choose thou her resting-place. <br /> <br />"The sepulchres of those we love, <br />We place at thy command; <br />Against the plea thy grief hath made <br />We close not heart nor hand." <br /> <br />The patriarch rose and bowed his head, <br />And said, "One place I crave; <br />'Tis at the end of Ephron's field, <br />And called Machpelah's cave. <br /> <br />"Entreat him that he sell to me <br />For her last sleep that cave; <br />I do not ask for her I loved <br />The freedom of a grave." <br /> <br />The son of Zohar answered him, <br />"Hearken, my lord, to me; <br />Before our sons, the field and cave <br />I freely give to thee." <br /> <br />"I will not take it as a gift," <br />The grand old man then said; <br />"I pray thee let me buy the place <br />Where I may lay my dead." <br /> <br />And with the promise in his heart, <br />His seed should own that land, <br />He gave the shekels for the field <br />He took from Ephron's hand. <br /> <br />And saw afar the glorious day <br />His chosen seed should tread, <br />The soil where he in sorrow lay <br />His loved and cherished dead.<br /><br />Frances Ellen Watkins Harper<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/burial-of-sarah/
