Lament

LAMENT

Listen, children:

Your father is dead.

From his old coats

I'll make you little jackets:

I'll make you little trousers

From his old pants.

There'll be in his pockets

Things he used to put there,

Keys and pennies

Covered with tobacco;

Dan shall have the pennies

To save in his bank;

Anne shall have the keys

To make a pretty noise with.

Life must go on,

And the dead be forgotten.

Life Must Go On,

Though good men die;

Anne, eat your breakfast.

Dan, take your medicine;

Life must go on;

I forget just why.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay