Why poems?
“But he/she didn’t like poetry.”
This is a common answer when asking clients if they’d like any poetry read in a service. It’s a fair response.
So... why do so many use poems at funerals? What's the point of them?
This is a common answer when asking clients if they’d like any poetry read in a service. It’s a fair response.
So... why do so many use poems at funerals? What's the point of them?
A big impact, in just a few words.
Reciting a poem can convey an accurate impression of feelings. It does so in far fewer words than prose. Poetry delivers a powerful emotional impact in just a few lines.
Poetry and music are the best ways we have, to convey what that person meant to you.
Poetry and music are the best ways we have, to convey what that person meant to you.
'Remember Me' by David Harkins.
You can shed tears that he is gone,
Or you can smile because he has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray he will come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all he has left.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him,
Or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow, because of yesterday.
You can remember him and only that he is gone,
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do as he would want:
Smile. Open your eyes. Love, and go on.
Or you can smile because he has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray he will come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all he has left.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him,
Or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow, because of yesterday.
You can remember him and only that he is gone,
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do as he would want:
Smile. Open your eyes. Love, and go on.
'Death (If I Should Go)' by Joyce Grenfell.
If I should die before the rest of you,
Break not a flower nor inscribe a stone.
Nor, when I'm gone, speak in a Sunday voice,
But be the usual selves that I have known.
Weep if you must, Parting is hell.
But life goes on, So... sing as well.
Break not a flower nor inscribe a stone.
Nor, when I'm gone, speak in a Sunday voice,
But be the usual selves that I have known.
Weep if you must, Parting is hell.
But life goes on, So... sing as well.
`Weep Not For Me' by Constance Jenkins.
Weep not for me though I have gone
Into that gentle night
Grieve if you will, but not for long
Upon my soul’s sweet flight
I am at peace, my soul’s at rest
There is no need for tears
For with your love I was so blessed
For all those many years
There is no pain, I suffer not
The fear is now all gone
Put now these things out of your thoughts
In your memory, I live on
Remember not my fight for breath
Remember not the strife
Please do not dwell upon my death
But celebrate my life.
Into that gentle night
Grieve if you will, but not for long
Upon my soul’s sweet flight
I am at peace, my soul’s at rest
There is no need for tears
For with your love I was so blessed
For all those many years
There is no pain, I suffer not
The fear is now all gone
Put now these things out of your thoughts
In your memory, I live on
Remember not my fight for breath
Remember not the strife
Please do not dwell upon my death
But celebrate my life.
Adapted from a poem by Rashida Rowe.
You may have been out of my sight,
but you will never be out of my heart.
I may not have seen your face,
but I will always remember your smile,
I will never hear your voice again,
but you will forever whisper in my ear.
I never got to say goodbye to you,
or tell you how much you really mean to me,
One day we may meet at heavens gate,
and I will be with you again.
And this time it will be forever.
but you will never be out of my heart.
I may not have seen your face,
but I will always remember your smile,
I will never hear your voice again,
but you will forever whisper in my ear.
I never got to say goodbye to you,
or tell you how much you really mean to me,
One day we may meet at heavens gate,
and I will be with you again.
And this time it will be forever.
'Always with You' by unknown.
Your Mother is always with you.
She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the
street, she's the smell of certain foods you remember,
flowers you pick and perfume that she wore, she's the
cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well,
she's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day.
She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep…
the colors of a rainbow, she is Christmas morning.
Your Mother lives inside your laughter.
And she's crystallized in every teardrop.
A mother shows every emotion...happiness,
sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger,
helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow...and all the
while, hoping and praying you will only know the good
feelings in life.
She's the place you came from, your first home, and
she's the map you follow with every step you take.
She's your first love, your first friend, even your
first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you.
She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the
street, she's the smell of certain foods you remember,
flowers you pick and perfume that she wore, she's the
cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well,
she's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day.
She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep…
the colors of a rainbow, she is Christmas morning.
Your Mother lives inside your laughter.
And she's crystallized in every teardrop.
A mother shows every emotion...happiness,
sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger,
helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow...and all the
while, hoping and praying you will only know the good
feelings in life.
She's the place you came from, your first home, and
she's the map you follow with every step you take.
She's your first love, your first friend, even your
first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you.
'Turn again' by Mary Lee Hall.
If I should die, and leave you here awhile
Be not like others sore undone, who keep
Long vigils by the silent dust and weep.
For my sake, turn again to life, and smile,
Nerving thy heart and trembling hand to do
Something to comfort weaker hearts than thine.
Complete these dear unfinished tasks of mine,
And I, perchance, may therein comfort you!
Be not like others sore undone, who keep
Long vigils by the silent dust and weep.
For my sake, turn again to life, and smile,
Nerving thy heart and trembling hand to do
Something to comfort weaker hearts than thine.
Complete these dear unfinished tasks of mine,
And I, perchance, may therein comfort you!
Traditional Old Gaelic Blessing.
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
'Epitaph on a Friend' by Robert Burns.
An honest man here lies at rest,
The friend of man, the friend of truth,
The friend of age, and guide of youth:
Few hearts like his, with virtue warm'd,
Few heads with knowledge so inform'd;
If there's another world, he lives in bliss;
If there is none, he made the best of this.
The friend of man, the friend of truth,
The friend of age, and guide of youth:
Few hearts like his, with virtue warm'd,
Few heads with knowledge so inform'd;
If there's another world, he lives in bliss;
If there is none, he made the best of this.
'For Katrina’s Sundial' by Henry Van Dyke.
Time is too slow for those who wait,
Too swift for those who fear,
Too long for those who grieve,
Too short for those who rejoice,
But for those who love, time is eternity.
Too swift for those who fear,
Too long for those who grieve,
Too short for those who rejoice,
But for those who love, time is eternity.
'Ode to Kath' by Bob Lowe.
I am alone, now I know it’s true
There was a time when we were two
Those were the days when we would chat
Doing little jobs of this and that
We’d go to the shops and select our meals
But now I’m one I know how it feels
To try and cook or have meals on wheels
The rooms are empty there’s not a sound
Sometimes I’m lost and wander round
To look for jobs that I can do
To bring back the days when we were two
When darkness falls and curtains drawn
That’s when I feel most forlorn
But I must be honest and tell the truth
I’m not quite alone and here’s the proof
Because beside me in her chair
She quietly waits our time to share
Kath said to me some time ago
Darling when the time comes for us to go
Let’s mix our ashes and be together
So we can snuggle up for ever and ever.
(Source)
There was a time when we were two
Those were the days when we would chat
Doing little jobs of this and that
We’d go to the shops and select our meals
But now I’m one I know how it feels
To try and cook or have meals on wheels
The rooms are empty there’s not a sound
Sometimes I’m lost and wander round
To look for jobs that I can do
To bring back the days when we were two
When darkness falls and curtains drawn
That’s when I feel most forlorn
But I must be honest and tell the truth
I’m not quite alone and here’s the proof
Because beside me in her chair
She quietly waits our time to share
Kath said to me some time ago
Darling when the time comes for us to go
Let’s mix our ashes and be together
So we can snuggle up for ever and ever.
(Source)