Lincoln and Ann Rutledge

[David Lockmiller]

Gene and Angela, your posts made me think of a question. Here is a photo of Ann's tombstone at Oakland Cemetery:

Here are the words from Masters' poem:

Out of me unworthy and unknown
The vibrations of deathless music;
"With malice toward none with charity for all."
Out of me the forgiveness of millions toward millions,
And the beneficent face of a nation
Shining with justice and truth.
I am Anne Rutledge who sleep beneath these weeds,
Beloved in life of Abraham Lincoln,
Wedded to him, not through union
But through separation.
Bloom forever, O Republic,
From the dust of my bosom!

The 8th line of Masters' poem is "Beloved in life of Abraham Lincoln."

But the words "in life" were left off the gravestone. Anybody know why?

Perhaps it is because "Beloved in life of Abraham Lincoln" does not make much sense. The additional words simply detract. The person responsible for carving the words onto the tombstone may have thought so as well.

I am Anne Rutledge who sleep beneath these weeds,
Beloved of Abraham Lincoln,
Wedded to him, not through union
But through separation.

Decades later, Isaac Cogdal asked Lincoln about Anne Rutledge. Lincoln's response was:

"I loved the woman dearly & sacredly: she was a handsome girl — would have made a good loving wife — was natural & quite intellectual, though not highly Educated — I did honestly — & truly love the girl & think often — often of her now."