I happened to chance upon this poem a while ago when I was checking my email. Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep is a poem largely considered to be written by Mary Elizabeth Frye (1904-2004), but of disputed origin. Of course the reason I am sharing this remarkable verse here is not to discuss who is the original author but to share with you the power and wisdom in the words. It was said that Frye first wrote this poem in 1932 for a German Jewish friend, Margaret Schwarzkopf. Margaret Schwarzkopf had been worrying about her mother, who was ill in Germany. The rise of Anti-Semitism had made it unwise for her to join her mother. When her mother died, she told Mary Frye she had not had the chance to stand by her mother’s grave and weep.
Frye wrote the poem as part of her condolences. Like Frye who wrote this inspiring verse for her friend, I would like to share this remarkable verse with you and to the survivors of Myanmar’s (Burma) Cyclone and China’s Earthquake. May this poem inspires, consoles and strengthens their human spirits.
Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush.
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there.
I do not die.
译文:
别在我的坟前哭泣
刚刚在查收邮件的时候偶然看到了这首诗。《别在我的坟前哭泣》的作者虽然还存在着争议，但是多数认为是Mary Elizabeth Frye（1904-2004）所作。和大家分享这首伟大的诗的原因当然不是为了讨论谁是诗的原作者，而只是想和大家分享其中所包含的激励和智慧。据说此诗是Frye在1932年为一个名叫Margaret Schwarzkopf的德国犹太朋友所作。Margaret Schwarzkopf那时正在为她那在德国生病的母亲忧虑着。反犹太主义的盛行使她无法去见她母亲。她母亲死后，她对Mary Frye说她连在她母亲坟前哭泣的机会都没有。
Frye写了这首诗作为慰藉。就像Frye写了这首激励诗安慰她朋友一样，我也想和你们，还有遭受缅甸飓风袭击和中国地震的幸存者们分享这首伟大的诗。希望此诗能鼓舞，安慰和巩固他们的生命灵魂。
别在我的坟前哭泣
别在我的坟前哭泣
我不在那里，我没有沉睡……
我在千万缕吹佛的微风中飞扬
我是飘自天际的柔柔白雪
我是洒落人间的温柔阵雨
我是盛满成熟谷粒的广阔原野
我在晨间恬静的安宁中休息
我在匆忙的脚步中奔走
我是美丽的小鸟在空中盘旋
我是夜间熠熠闪烁的灿烂星光
我在百花绽放的花丛中，
我在静谧无声的屋室里。
我是歌唱的鸟儿，
存在于所有美好的事物里
不要在我的坟前哭泣
我不在那里
我未曾离开……