Bring Flowers Poem by Benjamin Cutler Clark

Bring flowers—gay flowers, to garnish the tomb,
Where, enshrined, the poor feeble body shall rest;
Let violets and dahlias continue to bloom,—
Be careful to keep them well dress'd.

How very desirous to select a place where,
With fine gravelled walks, and high iron rail,
Where gay roses grow with profusion and care,
To inter the body so frail!

'Tis well! but how many forget the poor soul
Is vastly more lasting than poor feeble dust;
Neglect to preserve it a mansion or goal,
With God and the holy and just.

Let flattering tombstones of marble denote
The places where wealth is decaying to dust;
And epitaphs tell of their virtues in rote,—
How wise they have lived, and how just.

Bring flowers—sweet flowers, to strew on the grave
Where virtue neglected lies hid from the eyes,
And where lie the righteous, the noble, and brave,
Till called from above to arise.