We Do Not Play on Graves
poem 467
We Do Not Play on Graves - meaning Summary
Play Avoids Mourning Places
The poem imagines playthings or children avoiding graves because there is no room and because mourners place flowers and somber faces nearby. Fearful that heavy hearts might literally crush their play, they withdraw and keep distance like enemies, checking back only occasionally to measure how far they are. The voice treats mourning and play as separate spheres, showing how grief alters physical and emotional space for the living and the playful.
Read Complete AnalysesWe do not play on Graves Because there isn’t Room Besides it isn’t even it slants And People come And put a Flower on it And hang their faces so We’re fearing that their Hearts will drop And crush our pretty play And so we move as far As Enemies away Just looking round to see how far It is Occasionally
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