Do not pass by my dust, O moon, from the marble floor; / We too were among the adornments of a flowing stream.

This powerful couplet is a warning, a statement of dignity. The poet tells the Moon (or the beloved) not to pass by the remnants of the poet's existence—his dust. He reminds the listener that though he is now reduced to dust, he once held a place of honor, a status among the admired figures of the world. It speaks to the enduring pride of the artist, even when time has taken everything else away. It’s a profound assertion of self-worth.