American poet Mary Elizabeth (Clark) Frye was born in Dayton, Ohio in 1905 and orphaned when she was only three years old. Later relocating to Baltimore, and while having no formal education, she always loved to read. At the age of 22 she married Claud Frye.
In 1932, the Frye’s hosted a young Jewish girl from Germany and due to the increasing Anti-Semitic turmoil, she could not return home. Sadly, while away, the girls mother died and her grief deeply touched the soul of Frye, who knew too well what it meant to lose your mother. At some point, Frye took a brown paper shopping bag and wrote down a verse – later, she would say the words “just came to her.”
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circled flight.
I am the starshine at night.
I am in the flowers that bloom
I am in a quiet room
I am in the birds that sing
I am in each lovely thing
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
Written by Mary Elizabeth Frye-1932