If I should ever die

If I should ever die

Six verse poem of instructions should he die.

1944-07-31

One page typewritten document

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[underlined]”IF I SHOULD EVER DIE”[/underlined]

If I should ever die, my love,
And leave you all alone,
Don’t sink me in a narrow grave
Nor raise for me a stone;

And let no man with book and prayer
Commend my soul to heaven,
That would be most depressing, dear,
More than dying, even!

I don’t like funeral services,
And, what is worse by far,
I suffer (on my mother’s side)
From claustrophobia!

I’d hate to have my friends and you
Clad in your clothes of crepe,
Weeping sorrowful tears for
My emaciated shape!

No! Take my ashes to the hills,
The wild hills that I love,
And scatter my dust upon the moor
With the painted sky above –

There, I’d be always near you,
And by you gaily flying ----
----But, I am laughing and glad and young,
And hold no thought of dying!

Tuddenham
31 July 44