Popular funeral poems
You’ve Just Walked on Ahead of Me ~ Christina Rossetti
Is a message about finding ways to cope with grief
after losing a loved one.
You’ve Just Walked on Ahead of me and I’ve got to understand,
You must release the ones you love, and let go of their hand.
I try and cope the best I can, but I’m missing you so much.
If I could only see you and once more feel your touch.
Yes, you’ve just walked on ahead of me, don’t worry I’ll be fine,
But now and then I swear I feel your hand slip into mine.
Afterglow ~ Helen Lowrie Marshall
Is about happy memories living on after a loved one has gone.
I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one.
I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.
I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways,
Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days.
I’d like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun;
Of happy memories that I leave when life is done.
God Saw You ~ Frances M. Coelho
Is a poem about loved ones finding peace with God in Heaven.
God saw you getting tired, When a cure was not to be.
So He wrapped his arms around you, and whispered, "Come to me".
You didn't deserve what you went through, so He gave you rest.
God's garden must be beautiful, He only takes the best.
And when I saw you sleeping, So peaceful and free from pain,
I could not wish you back to suffer that again.
Because I Love You So ~ Author Unknown
Is a simple but beautiful poem, expressing love through loss.
Time will not dim the face I love,
The voice I heard each day,
The many things you did for me,
In your own special way.
All my life I’ll miss you,
As the years come and go,
But in my heart I’ll keep you,
Because I love you so.
Let Me Go ~ Christina Rossetti
Is an uplifting poem about saying goodbye to a loved one.
When I come to the end of the road and the sun has set for me,
I want no rites in a gloom filled room, why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little, but not for long and not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love that once we shared, miss me, but let me go.
For this is a journey we all must take and each must go alone.
It's all part of the master plan, a step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick at heart, go to the friends we know.
Laugh at all the things we used to do, miss me, but let me go.
I'm There Inside Your Heart ~ Rushifurus Angel
Puts across the feeling of oneness we hope to hold on to with those we have lost.
Right now I’m in a different place and though we seem apart,
I’m closer than I ever was, I’m there inside your heart.
I’m with you when you greet each day and while the sun shines bright.
I’m there to share the sunsets, too, I’m with you every night.
I’m with you when the times are good to share a laugh or two,
And if a tear should start to fall, I’ll still be there for you.
And when that day arrives that we no longer are apart,
I’ll smile and hold you close to me, forever in my heart.
One At Rest ~ AJ Stanley
Is a conversation between your loved one and those that knew him. A reminder to cherish what was and embrace what is.
Think of me as one at rest, for me you should not weep,
I have no pain no troubled thoughts for I am just asleep.
The living thinking me that was, is now forever still,
And life goes on without me now, as time forever will.
If your heart is heavy now because I've gone away,
Dwell not long upon it friend, for none of us can stay.
Those of you who liked me, I sincerely thank you all.
And those of you who loved me, I thank you most of all.
And in my fleeting lifespan, as time went rushing by,
I found some time to hesitate, to laugh, to love, to cry.
Matters it now if time began, if time will ever cease?
I was here, I used it all, and now I am at peace.
When I'm Gone ~ Mosiah Lyman Hancock
Is about remembering your loved one at their best.
When I come to the end of my journey and I travel my last weary mile.
Just forget, if you can, that I ever frowned, and remember only the smile.
Forget unkind words I have spoken; and remember some good I have done.
Forget that I’ve stumbled and blundered and sometimes fell by the way.
Remember I have fought some hard battles and won, ere the close of the day.
Then forget to grieve for my going; I would not have you sad for a day.
But in summer just gather some flowers and remember the place where I lay,
And come in the shade of the evening when the sun paints the sky in the west.
Stand for a few moments beside me and remember only my best.
Dash ~ Linda Ellis
Is a contemplative poem where 'The Dash' represents our life.
I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning to the end.
He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all was The Dash between those years
For that dash represents all the time that they spent alive on earth,
And now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own, the cars, the house, the cash.
What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our Dash.
So, think about this long and hard, are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real,
And always try to understand the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger and show appreciation more,
And love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile,
Remembering this special Dash might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read with your life's actions to rehash,
Would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent Your Dash?
Remember Me ~ Margaret Mead
Is a message of remembrance and love in times of grief.
To the living, I am gone, to the sorrowful, I will never return,
To the angry, I was cheated, but to the happy, I am at peace,
And to the faithful, I have never left.
I cannot speak, but I can listen. I cannot be seen, but I can be heard.
So as you stand upon a shore gazing at a beautiful sea,
As you look upon a flower and admire its simplicity, Remember me.
Remember me in your heart: your thoughts, and your memories,
Of the times we loved, the times we cried,
The times we fought, the times we laughed.
For if you always think of me, I will never have gone.
Do not Stand at my Grave and Weep ~ Mary Elizabeth Frye
Says that the people you love are all around you.
Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift uplifting rush,
Of quiet birds in circled flight, I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there. I did not die.
In Memoriam ~ Author Unknown
Our lives go on without you,
But nothing is the same,
We have to hide our heartache,
When someone speaks your name,
Sad are the hearts that love you,
Silent are the tears that fall,
Living without you is the hardest part of all,
You did so many things for us,
Your heart was so kind and true,
And when we needed someone,
We could always count on you,
The special years will not return,
When we are all together,
But with the love in our hearts,
You walk with us forever.
Anon
Don't Miss me More ~ Donna Ashworth
Don’t miss me more than once a day,
For life is moving fast.
Don’t wish all of your time away,
Dreaming of the past.
Don’t waste the moment looking at,
The things I left behind me.
I’m not within those walls or boxes
The heart is where you’ll find me.
Don’t dread to say my name, sweet one,
Don’t fear the wrath of sadness.
Just take the love you had for me,
And turn it into gladness.
Don’t worry when my birthday comes
Don’t feel me missing more.
I’m filled with love you’re sending me,
Just as I was before.
Some days your anger will rush out,
Your tears will find their way.
To me, wherever I am then.
I’ll soothe them all away.
When I am gone don’t miss me more,
Than once, or twice a day.
There’s so much life to live, my love.
I’m with you, all the way.
Look for me in Rainbows ~ Author Unknown
Time for me to go now, I won’t say goodbye;
Look for me in rainbows, way up in the sky.
In the morning sunrise when all the world is new,
Just look for me & love me, as you know I love you.
Time for me to go now, I won’t say goodbye;
Look for me in rainbows, high up in the sky.
In the evening sunset, when all the world is through,
Just look for me and love me, and I’ll be close to you.
It won’t be forever, the day will come and then
My loving arms will hold you, when we meet again.
Time for us to part now, we won’t say goodbye;
Look for me in rainbows, shining in the sky.
Every waking moment and all your whole life through
Just look for me and love me, as you know I loved you.
Just wish me near to you, and I’ll be there with you.
Take the Love ~ Donna Ashworth
Take the love you had for me and turn it into laughter,
Turn it into blinding light to shine on you thereafter.
Take the love you have for me and show it to the world,
Something so amazing needs to blossom and unfurl.
Take the love that made us, keep it burning bright,
Let that fire guide you, let it warm you through the night.
Take the love you shared with me and spread it out with gladness,
My life will not have been in vain if you can fight the sadness.
Take the love my darling it’s yours to carry on,
Grow that love forevermore and then I won’t be gone.
Feathers ~ Donna Ashworth
I left you a little white feather,
I placed it right there in your way.
I wrapped it in love with a message,
To let you know you’ll be okay.
I drew you a colourful rainbow,
It followed your car for a while.
I made it a beautiful rainbow,
I hoped it would show me your smile.
I flew down a beautiful robin,
It landed right there on your ledge.
I prayed he would give you the strength,
to push yourself back from the edge.
I try every day to remind you,
That I never did go away,
The feathers, the rainbows, the robins,
Are my way of trying to stay.
Without Hope ~ Donna Ashworth
Without hope, grief will surely steal your life.
Without believing you will see them again,
That they will still exist around you in energy,
That their love is fueling yours,
Grief will make a wasteland of your world.
Do not let something born of such beauty,
Of such joy, become your downfall.
It was supposed to be your purpose,
The fire in your belly, the reason you go on.
Hope is the space between having them here,
And knowing they are still with you.
It is an invisible blanket but oh,
It will warm you at night. Let it warm you,
Your loved one would like that very much indeed.
Last Journey ~ Timothy Coote
There is a train at the station
With a seat reserved just for me
I’m excited about its destination
As I’ve heard it sets you free
The trials and tribulations
The pain and stress we breathe
Don’t exist where I am going
Only happiness I believe
I hope that you will be there
To wish me on my way
It’s not a journey you can join in
It’s not your time today
There’ll be many destinations
Some are happy, some are sad
Each one a brief reminder
Of the great times that we’ve had
Many friends I know are waiting
Who took an earlier train
To greet and reassure me
That nothing has really changed
We’ll take the time together
To catch up on the past
To build a new beginning
One that will always last
One day you’ll take your journey
On the train just like me
And I promise that I’ll be there
At the station and you will see
That life is just a journey
Enriched by those you meet
No-one can take that from you
It’s always yours to keep
But now as no seat is vacant
You will have to muddle through
Make sure you fulfil your ambitions
As you know I’ll be watching you
And if there’s an occasion
To mention who you knew
Speak kindly of that person
As one day it will be you
Now I can’t except this ending
And as it’s time for me to leave
Please make haste to the reception
To enjoy my drinks, they’re free!
Poem of Life ~ Author Unknown
Life is but a stopping place,
A pause in what's to be,
A resting place along the road,
To sweet eternity.
We all have different journeys,
Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things,
But never meant to stay.
Our destination is a place,
Far greater than we know.
For some the journey's quicker,
For some the journey's slow.
And when the journey finally ends,
We'll claim a great reward,
And find an everlasting peace,
Together with the Lord.
My Journey's Just Begun ~ Ellen Brenneman
Don't think of me as gone away,
My journey's just begun,
Life holds so many facets,
This earth is but one.
Just think of me as resting,
From the sorrows and the tears.
In a place of warmth and comfort,
Where there are no days and years.
Think of how I must be wishing,
That you could know today,
How nothing but your sadness,
Can really go away.
And think of me as living,
In the hearts of those I touched,
For nothing loved is ever lost,
And I know I was loved so much
Signs ~ Becky Hemsley
There's a robin on my fence today,
A feather by my feet
A heart-shaped leaf that blows along
Beside me down the street
Your song played on the radio
This morning in the car
And just last night I could've sworn
I saw a shooting star
The sun and rain are dancing
Making rainbows in the sky
And on the slightest breeze I watch
A butterfly go by
And people might say these are not
The signs I know they are
That it is just coincidence
Your song played in the car
That it is just the sky
And it is just the birds and breeze
A little windy weather
And the nature of the trees
But there is nothing little
About the way they make me feel
The sense of peace they carry
Is both comforting and real
Because it's just one song
And just one butterfly and bird
Just one star and just one leaf
In one enormous world
And so the probability
Of noticing it all
Is close to nearly nothing;
Almost infinitely small
And that is how I know
That when that leaf floats into view
It isn't a coincidence,
But a sign of love from you
So keep on shooting stars to me,
Keep playing me your song
Whilst you dance atop the rainbows
And blow heart-shaped leaves along
Yes, keep on sending signs my love
I'll always look around
For your butterflies on breezes
And your feathers on the ground
A Letter to my Lost Love One ~ Brooke Ashley Patterson
I am still doing okay.
First of all,
I just want you to know that I have healed;
it may not be completely,
but I am doing okay.
I am surviving in this world without you,
which I would have never thought was imaginable.
Not a day goes by where you don’t cross my mind.
When you first left us, I was completely torn apart.
I had no clue how to go about my everyday life without seeing you every single day.
I wanted nothing more than to come home to you, simply annoying.
I missed the way you would creep around the house at all hours during the day.
I missed the way you asked me questions a hundred times,
even though I would answer 99 times before.
I missed sitting across from you at the dinner table.
But most of all,
I missed your jokes and crazy sayings.
I was not the only person affected by you leaving
– it hit the entire family hard.
I had never witnessed such a happy family so down, for so long, when you left.
We all got through it - together;
to this day we have managed to remain closer than ever,
with an inseparable bond.
The family has you to thank for that.
Whether you are with us, physically or emotionally,
you are the super glue to our family.
Although I miss you more and more as time goes on,
I am grateful for everything you have given me in this life.
Without you I would not be the person I am today.
I have realised that everything happens for a reason, the good and the bad.
I have learned to accept everybody and give them a second chance,
because you never know what they are going through.
Sometimes accepting people is the hardest,
yet easiest thing,
on yourself and everybody else.
Most importantly I learned: I am never alone.
I have an incredible guardian angel looking over my every move,
as well as an extremely close family.
Every action I make, I know I am not only making it for myself,
but it is affecting so many other people.
When you passed away, my life came to a halt –
I didn’t know how it would start back up again without you.
Here I am today, years later, without you,
living my life through positivity, and experiencing the journey to my fullest extent.
Doing things I would have never thought thinkable.
I have learned my life is not the same without you,
but although you may not be here,
I cannot stop living and experiencing.
I have pushed through so many obstacles, and am prepared to push through many more,
with a wonderful guardian angel above.
I continue to miss you everyday,
but just remember –
I am okay
I thought of You Today ~ Author Unknown
I thought of you today,
But that is nothing new.
I thought about you yesterday,
And days before that too.
I think of you in silence,
I often speak your name.
All I have are memories,
And your picture in a frame.
Your memory is a keepsake,
From which I’ll never part.
God has you in his arms,
I have you in my heart.