Frederick Philip Grove
THE DIRGE
(IM 15, 1-33)

---

e-Edition by Gaby Divay
© August 2007

University of Manitoba Libraries	FPG & FrL Collections	University of Manitoba Archives

I. "Beauty was thine... by Frederick Philip Grove Beauty was thine and slender-bodied grace Which from within thy spirit had inspired; And wonder at the dawn lived in thy face, Preceding knowledge eagerly desired. Thus all who saw thee marvelled; for thy smile Flashed forth thy soul, lovely and beyond compare, Disarming ill-will, malice, guilt, and guile: Thy sight made goodness spring forth everywhere. Yet were thou but a child; a step to thee Was ever hop-and-skip; and every word A laugh that echoed from the wood or lea; Kin wert thou to the colt, the fawn, the bird. Beauty was thine and slender-bodied grace Till flew across thy path a blighting breath: Then, rigid suddenly gleamed thy tender face, Paled in the stark solemnity of death. In Memoriam 15/1