From Ms. Rukeyser: "Song for Dead Children" {a poem}

It turns out I could learn to love the word poignant. Enough said.  This unrelated image, by the way, is from an article in The Daily Mail about the "new face of grief" in England and how politicians are trying to eliminate it.  So, two offerings.  The article's url follows the poem. I hope I'm not confusing with independent yet related things.

SONG FOR DEAD CHILDREN

We set great wreaths of brightness on the graves of the passionate

who required tribute of hot July flowers—

for you, O brittle-hearted, we bring offering

remembering how your wrists were thin and your delicate bones

not yet braced for conquering.

The sharp cries of ghost-boys are keen above the meadows,

and little girls continue graceful and wondering.

Flickering evening on the lakes recalls those young

heirs whose developing years have sunk to earth,

their strength not tested, their praise unsung.

Weave grasses for their childhood—who will never see

love or disaster or take sides against decay

balancing the choices of maturity.

Silent and coffined in silence while we pass

loud in defiance of death, the helpless lie.

 October 1935

BY Muriel Rukeyser, from The Collected Poems of Muriel Rukesyer. 

The Daily Mail article is here: "Modern face of mourning: The colourful 'poundland' shrines across Britain that councils are trying to wipe out"