Lament

by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY

  Listen, children:
  Your father is dead.
  From his old coats
  I’ll make you little jackets;
  I’ll make you little trousers
  From his old pants.
  There’ll be in his pockets
  Things he used to put there,
  Keys and pennies
  Covered with tobacco;
  Dan shall have the pennies
  To save in his bank;
  Anne shall have the keys
  To make a pretty noise with.
  Life must go on,
  And the dead be forgotten;
  Life must go on,
  Though good men die;
  Anne, eat your breakfast;
  Dan, take your medicine;
  Life must go on;
  I forget just why.