A Favourite Poem

REMEMBER

by: Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)

EMEMBER me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.

"Remember" is reprinted from Goblin Market and other Poems. Christina Rossetti. Cambridge: Macmillan, 1862.

The thoughts of those who have left...whether recently or long ago, have filled my thoughts recently.
Life goes on...for the living, and the grieving. The pain does not go away that easily. Memories linger...and the feeling of loss leaves voids which are not easily filled.

Maybe...maybe...the footprints I leave behind one day...should be those happy ones...so no one will miss me.