Epitaph

Stop, Christian Passer-by!—Stop, child of God

And read with gentle breast. Beneath this sod

A poet lies, or that which one seem’d he.—

O, lift one thought in prayer for S.T.C.;

That he who many a year with toil of breath

Found death in life, may here find life in death!

Mercy for praise—to be forgiven for fame

He ask’d, and hoped, through Christ. Do thou the same!

            In the year before Coleridge’s death, he wrote this poem to be placed upon his epitaph as a memory of who he was and what he stood for. After all, the only memory that remains long after we are dead is a tombstone and for some people, that includes a few memorable lines worth quoting or poetry. He calls for all who pass by his final resting place to stop, or at least, slow down to read a select number of words that he left behind. Not many people are remembered after his or her deaths except for those persons in the immediate family and associates of the deceased, so often it is advised to leave a timeless phrase or a few words to sum up a person’s entire life.

            Of course God was telling S.T.C. (Samuel Taylor Coleridge) that his time was coming to a close and to be prepared for the final trip home. With this fact in hand, he decided to write his final words and finish his goals of completing the Prelude to his satisfaction. When our lives end – we do not know when God is calling time out – we had better be ready to provide an account of our actions and show that our time here was not in vain. Instead of basking in the earthly glory of prestigious titles and pay, we should ask for mercy instead of praise and forgiveness as opposed to fame through Him. Fame is a corruptor of people, even the most upright Christian; see Rev. Jesse Jackson as a prime example. Lead by example, not the big talk; thus, our actions will show up.