Starburst

Near the end of the movie, Darkest Hour, Mrs. Churchill mutters softly, “Here lies a woman who was always tired because she lived in a world where too much was required.” It sounded familiar, so I've been searching for the rest of the poem. It seems to have been taken from “A Tired Woman’s Epitaph.” I don’t know who wrote it, or if it ever appeared on anyone’s headstone. But there are definitely days when I can sympathize:

Here lies a poor woman who was always tired;

She lived in a house where help was not hired.

Her last words on earth were: “Dear friends, I am going

Where washing ain’t done, nor sweeping, nor sewing:

But everything there is exact to my wishes;

For where they don’t eat there’s no washing of dishes…

Don’t mourn for me now; don’t mourn for me never –

I’m going to do nothing for ever and ever."