Monoluge from the Tomb

Came across this Pantuom in a Poetry Handbook by Babette Deutsch the author was anonymous, but according to Babette the Queen was Victoria. I find it intersting because it mirrors a vision I had during a very intense Sweat lodge some years ago.

Monologue from beyond the Tomb

Morn and noon and night,
Here I lie in the ground;
No faintest glimmer of light,
No lightest whisper fo sound.
Here I lie in the ground;
The worms glide in out and in
No lightest whisper of sound,
The worms glide out and in
They are fruitful and multiply;
After a lifelong din
I watch them quietly.
They are fruitful and multiply
My body dwindles the while;
I watch them quietly
I can scare forbear a smile.
My body dwindles the while
I shall soon be a skeleton;
I can scare forbear a smile
They have had such glorious fun
I shall soon be a skeleton;
The worm are wriggling away;
They have had such glorious fun
They will fertilize my clay.
They worms are wriggling away,
They are what I have been;
They will fertilize my clay;
The grass will grow more green.
They are what I have been,
I shall change, but what of that?
The grass will grow more green,
The parson sheep will grow fat.
I shall change, but what of that?
All flesh is grass, one says.
The parson sheep grow fat;
The parson grows in grace.
All flesh is grass , one says.
Grass becomes flesh, one knows.
The parson grows in grace:
I am the grace he grows.
Grass becomes flesh, one knows.
He grows like the bull of Bashan,
I am the grace he grows;
I startle his congregation.
He grows like the bull of Bashan,
One day he'll be Bishop or Dean.
I startle his congregation;
One day I shall preach to the Queen
One day he'll be Bishop or Dean,
One of those science-haters
One day I shall preach to the Queen.
To think of my going in gaiters!
One of those science-haters
Blind as a mole or bat;
To think of me going in gaiters,
And wearing a shovel hat!
Blind as a mole or bat,
No faintest glimmer of light,
And wearing a shovel hat,
Morning and noon and night.