Found in the Attic

by Eden Wallace

(Dated 5 June 1944)

When I die, bury me wrapped in my mother’s quilts;

Lay my body, cold and pale, into that hallowed ground.

Kiss me sweetly, kiss me gently, where my blood was spilt;

Let the colors, that triumph of colors, my stiffened corpse surround.

Then lay my body, cold and alone, into that hallowed ground.

Weep for me, mother, weep for me—now deafened to your woe!

Let your colors, your triumph of colors, my stiffened corpse surround—

I’m sorry, mother, I’m sorry to use your colors so!

Weep for us, mothers, weep for us—not deafened to our woe:

Tomorrow we die for the sins of our guilt!

Mother, I’m sorry! I’m sorry to use your colors so—

When I die, bury me wrapped in my mother’s quilts.