#epitaphs

I who in life stood upright as a tree Have found a still more basic way to be. — Dirt was I made from, back to dirt I went. Envy me now. I’m in my element. — The hardest part of dying is to turn Your back on that deep calm for which you burn. ***** X.J. Kennedy, one the greatest and most active formalists of the late 20th century, died last week at the age of 96. Short pieces like his…

No one remembered when the trying began.

Greek Anthology 7.186: But now the sweet flute was echoing in the bridal chamber of Nicippis, and the house rejoiced in the clapping of hands at her wedding. But the voice of wailing burst in upon the bridal hymn, and we saw her dead, the poor child, not yet quite a wife. O tearful Hades, why did you divorce the bridegroom and bride, you who yourself take delight in ravishment?

Greek Anthology 7.712: I am the tomb of Baucis the bride, and as you pass the much bewept pillar, say to Hades who dwells below "Hades, you are envious." To you the fair letters you see on the stone will tell you the most cruel fate of Baucis, how her bridegroom's father lighted the pyre with those very torches that had burnt while they sang the marriage hymn. And you, Hymenaios, did change the tuneful song of wedding to the dismal voice of lamentation.

2nd-1st century BC epigram from Teos: Soothe Persephone's envy, golden Stratonike, for the lord of the dead abducted your beauty, making your husband, Aristonax, a widower, and your unfortunate Eirene and father [who bears the name of Artemis] depriving of a wonderful child. You did not succumb to wasting diseases, but to the fast arrow of death during the sacred ceremonies of Demeter; when once Kore had been abducted by Hades, who [now] took for himself your beauty.