--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have always known that you will visit…" description: "\"“ I have always known that you will visit my grave. I see myself as a small brown bird, perhaps a sparrow, watching you from a low branch as you pray i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc1/judith-ortiz-cofer-41957_epitaph_i-have-always-known-that-you-will-visit_3070114.jpg" --- # I have always known that you will visit my grave. I see… ![“I have always known that you will visit my grave. I see myself as a small brown bird, perhaps a sparrow, watching you from a low branch as you pray in front of my name. I will hear you sound out my epitaph: Aqui descansa una mujer que quiso volar. You will recall telling me that you once dreamed…” quote by Judith Ortiz Cofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc1/judith-ortiz-cofer-41957_epitaph_i-have-always-known-that-you-will-visit_3070114.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc1/judith-ortiz-cofer-41957_epitaph_i-have-always-known-that-you-will-visit_3070114.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc1/judith-ortiz-cofer-41957_epitaph_i-have-always-known-that-you-will-visit_3070114.jpg) > ““ I have always known that you will visit my grave. I see myself as a small brown bird, perhaps a sparrow, watching you from a low branch as you pray in front of my name. I will hear you sound out my epitaph: Aqui descansa una mujer que quiso volar. You will recall telling me that you once dreamed in Spanish, and felt the words lift you into flight. The sound of wings will startle you when you say "volar," and you will understand.”” [Judith Ortiz Cofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ortiz-cofer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator imagines a small bird watching over a loved one’s grave, linking memory, language, and the metaphor of flight to convey enduring connection and remembrance. **In simple terms:** A bird watches over a grave, symbolizing memory and flight. Key Takeaway Cherish memories that lift you. Themes grief memory language Mood somber hopeful Type poetic memorial When to use this quote - visiting graves - writing epitaphs - reflecting on loss Key Concepts metaphor cultural identity Questions to Reflect On - How do personal symbols help in mourning? - What does “flight” represent for you? A Different Perspective May romanticize grief, overlooking practical coping. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Epitaph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epitaph/) ## Related quotes > [“A person should be buried only half a meter, or two feet, below the surface. Then a tree should be planted there. He should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedensreich-hundertwasser/a-person-should-be-buried-only-half-a-meter-or-two-feet-below-the/) [Friedensreich Hundertwasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedensreich-hundertwasser/) > [If I should die, and you should choose to carry on my work, you are welcome to visit my grave. Pour some water on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malalai-joya/if-i-should-die-and-you-should-choose-to-carry-on-my-work-you-are/) [Malalai Joya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malalai-joya/) > [One last word of farewell, dear master and mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also happiness in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-o-neill/one-last-word-of-farewell-dear-master-and-mistress-whenever-you-visit/) [Eugene O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-o-neill/) > [A woman would rather visit her own grave than the place where she has been young and beautiful after she is aged and ugly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/a-woman-would-rather-visit-her-own-grave-than-the-place-where-she-has/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“How was it that a man could not walk onto his own property, visit the grave of his wife, eat the fruits of forty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-abulhawa/how-was-it-that-a-man-could-not-walk-onto-his-own-property-visit-the/) [Susan Abulhawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-abulhawa/) > [I will be happy… When I will die... Because... Atleast after that people will cut out their ego and Atitude and come to visit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrinal/i-will-be-happy-when-i-will-die-because-atleast-after-that-people/) [Mrinal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrinal/) > [History fades into fable; fact becomes clouded with doubt and controversy; the inscription molders from the tablet: the statue falls from the pedestal. Columns,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/history-fades-into-fable-fact-becomes-clouded-with-doubt-and/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Our respect for the dead, when they are just dead, is something wonderful, and the way we show it more wonderful still. We show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/our-respect-for-the-dead-when-they-are-just-dead-is-something/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [My epitaph? 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I am hoping for "Witnesses reported the sound up to two hundred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nicoll/gun-wielding-recluse-gunned-down-by-local-police-isn-t-the-epitaph-i/) [James Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nicoll/) > [Epitaphs are cheap, and they do a poor chap a world of good after he is dead, especially if he had hard luck while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/epitaphs-are-cheap-and-they-do-a-poor-chap-a-world-of-good-after-he/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Wouldn’t that make a charming epitaph? Here lies Cat. Killed not by fang, but Ferragamos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/wouldn-t-that-make-a-charming-epitaph-here-lies-cat-killed-not-by/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [If I were to write my epitaph... Epitaph? Hey, shut-up Albert. I'd want to be remembered as someone who loved his sport and tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/if-i-were-to-write-my-epitaph-epitaph-hey-shut-up-albert-i-d-want-to/) [Albert II, Prince of Monaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/) ## More by Judith Ortiz Cofer > [“You are transformed into one of the gypsy ancestors we have never discussed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-ortiz-cofer/you-are-transformed-into-one-of-the-gypsy-ancestors-we-have-never/) [Judith Ortiz Cofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ortiz-cofer/) > [“I was chaos on the first day, waiting for the Word.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-ortiz-cofer/i-was-chaos-on-the-first-day-waiting-for-the-word/) [Judith Ortiz Cofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ortiz-cofer/) > [“In the wind that may travel as far as you have gone, I send this message: Out here, in a place you will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-ortiz-cofer/in-the-wind-that-may-travel-as-far-as-you-have-gone-i-send-this/) [Judith Ortiz Cofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ortiz-cofer/) > [It takes a fierce devotion to defend your artistic space, and eternal vigilance over it, because the needs of others will grow like vines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-ortiz-cofer/it-takes-a-fierce-devotion-to-defend-your-artistic-space-and-eternal/) [Judith Ortiz Cofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ortiz-cofer/) > [“Living with her taught me this: That silence is a thick and dark curtain, the kind that pulls down over a shop window; that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-ortiz-cofer/living-with-her-taught-me-this-that-silence-is-a-thick-and-dark/) [Judith Ortiz Cofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ortiz-cofer/) > [“Mourning suits us Spanish women. Tragedy turns us into Antigone - maybe we are bred for the part.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-ortiz-cofer/mourning-suits-us-spanish-women-tragedy-turns-us-into-antigone-maybe/) [Judith Ortiz Cofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ortiz-cofer/) > [“Without you, I am an empty place where spiders crawl and nothing takes root.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-ortiz-cofer/without-you-i-am-an-empty-place-where-spiders-crawl-and-nothing-takes/) [Judith Ortiz Cofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ortiz-cofer/) > [“The oldest woman in the village, Paciencia, predicts the weather from the flight of birds: Today it will rain toads, she says, squinting her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-ortiz-cofer/the-oldest-woman-in-the-village-paciencia-predicts-the-weather-from/) [Judith Ortiz Cofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ortiz-cofer/) > [“The decade is over, time to begin forgiving old sins. 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Killed not by fang, but Ferragamos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/wouldn-t-that-make-a-charming-epitaph-here-lies-cat-killed-not-by/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Epitaphs are cheap, and they do a poor chap a world of good after he is dead, especially if he had hard luck while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/epitaphs-are-cheap-and-they-do-a-poor-chap-a-world-of-good-after-he/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > ["Gun-wielding recluse gunned down by local police" isn't the epitaph I want. I am hoping for "Witnesses reported the sound up to two hundred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nicoll/gun-wielding-recluse-gunned-down-by-local-police-isn-t-the-epitaph-i/) [James Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nicoll/) > [I always thought I'd like my own tombstone to be blank. No epitaph, and no name. Well, actually, I'd like it to say 'figment.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-always-thought-i-d-like-my-own-tombstone-to-be-blank-no-epitaph-and/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Warm summer sun, shine kindly here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/warm-summer-sun-shine-kindly-here/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [My epitaph? My epitaph will be, 'Curiosity did not kill this cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/my-epitaph-my-epitaph-will-be-curiosity-did-not-kill-this-cat/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Our respect for the dead, when they are just dead, is something wonderful, and the way we show it more wonderful still. We show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/our-respect-for-the-dead-when-they-are-just-dead-is-something/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [History fades into fable; fact becomes clouded with doubt and controversy; the inscription molders from the tablet: the statue falls from the pedestal. Columns,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/history-fades-into-fable-fact-becomes-clouded-with-doubt-and/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Either our history shall with full mouth Speak freely of our acts, or else our grave, Like Turkish mute, shall have a tongueless mouth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/either-our-history-shall-with-full-mouth-speak-freely-of-our-acts-or/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Lots of people can have girlfriends. But I can throw around guitars onstage! That'll be my epitaph: 'He never had a girlfriend, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/lots-of-people-can-have-girlfriends-but-i-can-throw-around-guitars/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Over the epitaph of this generation it will say ENTERTAINED TO DEATH.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/over-the-epitaph-of-this-generation-it-will-say-entertained-to-death/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [Sleep undisturbed within this peaceful shrine, Till angels wake thee with a note like thine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/sleep-undisturbed-within-this-peaceful-shrine-till-angels-wake-thee/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Someone once asked me what I want on my epitaph when I pass away. Just the words 'I tried.' That's what this game of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/someone-once-asked-me-what-i-want-on-my-epitaph-when-i-pass-away-just/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [Poet: gardener of epitaphs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/poet-gardener-of-epitaphs/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) [Browse all 233 Epitaph quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epitaph/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“ I have always known that you will visit my grave. I see myself as a small brown bird, perhaps a sparrow, watching you from a low branch as you pray in front of my name. I will hear you sound out my epitaph: Aqui descansa una mujer que quiso volar. You will recall telling me that you once dreamed in Spanish, and felt the words lift you into flight. 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