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THE FIRST GRAVE.



I do not know who sleeps beneath,
    His history or name—
Whether if, lonely in his life,
    He is in death the same:
Whether he died unloved, unmourned,
    The last leaf on the bough;
Or, if some desolated hearth
    Is weeping for him now.

Perhaps this is too fanciful:—
    Though single be his sod,
Yet not the less it has around
    The presence of his God.
It may be weakness of the heart,
    But yet its kindliest, best:
Better if in our selfish world
    It could be less represt.