Poems
Below are a selection of popular poems to read at a funeral. These funeral poems are suitable to read as a eulogy or include in an obituary. You can also use them as short verses on funeral cards, as condolence messages, or as sympathy or bereavement poems.
There’s a reason these poems are popular for funerals — they capture the feelings of grief or provide words of comfort for loved ones left behind.
Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep
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 glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
(Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die!)
Mary Frye
Afterglow
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.
Helen Lowrie Marshall
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
For everything there is a season,
and a time for every matter under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time for war, and a time for peace.
Epitaph on a Friend
An honest man here lies at rest
As e’er God with his image blest.
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.
Robert Burns
Miss me but let me go
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 too long
And not with you head bowed low
Remember the love we once shared
Miss me – but let me go
For this is a journey we all must take
And each must go alone
It’s all a part of the master’s plan
A step on the road to home
When you are lonely and sick of heart
Go the friends we know
And bury your sorrow in doing good deeds
Miss me – but let me go.
Unknown
She/He is Gone
You can shed tears that she is gone
or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back
or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her
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 her and only that she’s gone
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back
or you can do what she’d want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
David Harkins
Traditional Celtic Blessing
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you
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 hollow of his hand.
The Seasons
We will remember you in the Spring
When the new shoots appear
A time of birth and renewal
As the world wakens from its wintry slumber
We will remember you in the Summer
Bright colours and sparkling seas
When drought threatens
and the rain is welcome
As the world basks in the balmy sun
We will remember you in the Autumn
When the trees lay down a leafy carpet
That crunches and crackles beneath our feet
As the world prepares for the coming chill
We will remember you in the Winter
When the days are short
and the nights are long
And the icy tendrils grasp and grip
As the world awaits the coming Spring.