ACROSTIC,
acrostic,
toaladywhodesiredmetowriteherepitaph
(1830)
gracejoannaheredothlie:
reader,wondernotthati
ante-dateherhourofrest.
canithwartherwishexprest,
ev'nunseemlythoughthelaugh
jestingwithanepitaph?
onherbonestheturflielightly,
andherriseagainbebrightly!
nodarkstainbefounduponher—
no,therewillnot,onminehonour—
answerthatatleastican.
wouldthati,thricehappyman,
inasspotlessgarbmightrise,
lightasshewillclimbtheskies,
leavingthedullearthbehind,
inacarmoreswiftthanwind.
allhererrors,allherfailings,
(manytheywerenot)andailings,
sleepsecurefromenvy'srailings.