Why is this the answer?

The answer is grave because this amazing riddle is a very clever way of describing a burial spot in the ground! It uses three wonderful clues that all point to the same secret answer. First, let's think about the line that says, "So cold, damp and dark this place." A grave is a hole dug deep into the earth. If you have ever put your hand deep down into the dirt, you know it is cool and dark. A grave is very cold, and the ground can be wet or damp, especially after it rains. This first clue paints a picture of a spooky, underground spot that is hidden from the sunlight and the warmth of the air above. The next part of the riddle is a little warning for living people! It says, "To stay you would refrain." To refrain means to stop yourself from doing something or to choose not to do it. As a living person, you would definitely choose not to stay in a dark, cold hole in the ground because it is not a pleasant place to be. You would want to get out quickly! This hint tells you that the place is not for the living. Now for the final and best clue: "yet those who occupy this place do never complain." To "occupy" a place means you live there. Who is the person who occupies a grave? It is the body of a person who has passed away. Since they are no longer living and cannot feel or talk, they can't ever complain about the cold or the darkness or the dampness of their spot under the earth. This clever clue is the real key to solving the riddle, because it tricks you into thinking about someone who *could* complain, when the actual answer is someone who *cannot* complain at all. It is a beautiful, old riddle that makes us think about where we rest in a peaceful and thoughtful way. The combination of the dark setting and the quiet "occupants" is exactly why the answer is a grave.