By the author of Earth's Many Voices Anon
Published in 'The Parish Magazine' in 1878
Underneath the churchyard grass
Lie the quiet dead;
Many an aching heart at rest
Many a weary head;
Many a life whose story, long
Long hath passed away,
Many a life which closed on earth
But as yesterday
To the graves of yesterday
Come kind, gentle feet,
And upon them loving hands
Scatter flowers sweet:
But the graves of long ago
There are none to tend;
All who cared have passed away-
Brother, sister, friend.
Bring sweet flowers, lay them down
On forgotten graves,
Where the mossy stone is grey,
And the long graves waves:
Tears have fallen, hearts have ached,
Full as bitterly,
O'er the graves of long ago
As of yesterday