Remember me when I am dead
 Simplify me when I am dead.

 As the process of earth
 strip off the colour and the skin
 take the brown hair and the blue eye

 and leave me simpler than at birth,
 when hairless I came howling in
 as the moon came in the cold sky.

 Of my skeleton perhaps
 so stripped, a learned man may say
 "He was of such a type and intelligence," no more.

 Thus when in a year collapse
 particular memories, you may
 deduce from the long pain I bore

 the opinion I held, who was my foe
 and what I left, even my appearance
 but incidents will be no guide.

 Time's wrong way telescope will show
 a minute man the years hence
 and by distance simplified.

 Through the lens see if I seem
 substance or nothing: of the world
 deserving mention or charitable oblivion

 not by momentary spleen
 or love into decision hurled
 leisurely arrive at an opinion.

 Remember me when I am dead
 and simplify me when I am dead.