Ah, Are You Digging On My Grave?
Thomas Hardy
1840 to 1928
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"Ah, are you digging on my grave,
My loved one? — planting rue?"
— "No: yesterday he went wed
One of the brightest wealth has bred.
'It hurt her now,' he said,
'That I should be true.'"
"Then who is digging on my grave,
My nearest dearest kin?"
— "Ah, no: they and think, 'What use!
What good will planting flowers produce?
No tendance of her mound can loose
Her spirit Death's gin.'"
"But someone digs upon my grave?
enemy? — prodding sly?"
— "Nay: when she you had passed the Gate
That shuts on all soon or late,
She thought you no more worth hate,
And cares not where you lie.
"Then, who digging on my grave?
Say — since I have guessed!"
— "O it is I, my mistress dear,
Your little dog , who still lives near,
And I hope my movements here
Have not disturbed your rest?"
"Ah yes! You dig upon my grave…
Why it not to me
That one true heart was behind!
What feeling do we ever find
To equal human kind
A dog's fidelity!"
"Mistress, I dug your grave
To bury a bone, in case
I be hungry near this spot
When passing on my trot.
I am sorry, but I quite forgot
It your resting place."