Ah, Are You Digging on My Grave?

- "Ah, are you digging on my grave,

My loved one? -- planting rue?"

- "No: yesterday he went to wed

One of the brightest wealth has bred.

It cannot hurt her now," he said,

"That I should not be true."

- "Then who is digging on my grave,

My nearest dearest kin?"

- "Ah, no: they sit and think, 'What use!

What good will planting flowers produce?

No tendance of her mound can loose

Her spirit from Death's gin.'"

- "But someone digs upon my grave?

My enemy? prodding sly?"

- "Nay: when she heard you had passed the Gate

That shuts on all flesh soon or late,

She thought you no more worth her hate,

And cares not where you lie.

- "Then, who is digging on my grave?

Say – since I have not guessed!"

- "O it is I, my mistress dear,

Your little dog , who still lives near,

And much I hope my movements here

Have not disturbed your rest?"

- "Ah yes! You dig upon my grave...

Why flashed it not to me

That one true heart was left behind!

What feeling do we ever find

To equal among human kind

A dog's fidelity!"

- "Mistress, I dug upon your grave

To bury a bone, in case

I should be hungry near this spot

When passing on my daily trot.

I am sorry, but I quite forgot

It was your resting place."