The poem
Stop, Christian passer-by : Stop, child of God, And read, with gentle breast. Beneath this sod A poet lies, or that which once 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.
The poem begins with a hook line to the christian who is passing by and who is also termed as a child of God to read with a sympathetic heart the epitaph on his tombstone.A poet or one who appeared to be a poet is buried under the sod.through struggles in life he found death.He wants prayer to find life in death and mercy and forgivenessas he sought for fame and praise during his lifetime. Finally he wants the reader to do the same for himself/herself.