A selection of thoughtful poems and readings for funerals and memorial ceremonies, carefully chosen to bring comfort, reflection and connection.
Poems are such an important part of a celebrant led service. Chosen carefully, they can share a message that our loved one would perhaps have said to friends and family (e.g. Afterglow), or they can recognise the importance that person had in our lives (e.g. The fallen limb). A light poem can gently lift a service and remind mourners of the things that resonate with the person they are mourning, for example Pam Ayres’ poem “With these hands” is about a wonderfully practical mother.
Poetry is the glue for the different parts of the service. It is an opportunity to pay a specially chosen tribute through another more symbolic form of expression, which allows us to explore our emotions in a more relatable manner than someone just speaking. A famous Russian poet, Maria Tsvetaeva said “There is something in poems that is more important than their meaning: their sound”
In this part of my website, I am bringing together some of my favourite poems and some I have written myself. Poetry is widely shared and loved by many; I hope you enjoy it. Out of respect, please attribute any poems you use to the author, and ensure ANY amendments are acknowledged too. Thank you.
Poems and readings to inspire or include in your celebrant-led ceremony, offering comfort, joy and reflection for life’s key events.
Poems
Celebrant readings
Ceremony poetry
Poems for funerals or weddings
Celebration verse
Helen Lowrie Marshall
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 behind, now that my life is done.
Henry Scott Holland
Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name ever be the household word that it always was,
Let it be spoken without an effort,
Without the ghost of a shadow upon it.
Life means all it ever meant,
It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute and unbroken continuity,
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you…
for an interval…
somewhere very near…
just around the corner.
All is well.
Author Unknown
Our love is like a lovely bridge
Between your heart and mine
A bridge we’ve built down through the years
Just to our own design
It’s based on happy memories
Of the good times that we’ve known
The hopes and dreams we two have shared
The thoughtfulness you’ve shown
It’s stronger now than ever
For it’s grown with every smile
And every act of kindness
That makes life more worthwhile
And now I know that, if you’re near
Or if we’re miles apart
Our love still unites us
With a bridge from heart to heart
Christina Rossetti
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 your head bowed low.
Remember the love that 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 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.
Bury your sorrows in doing good deeds,
Miss me … but let me go.
Author Unknown
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.
David Harkins
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 will come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her,
Or you can be full of the love that 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 is 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 would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
Author Unknown
A limb has fallen from the family tree,
I keep hearing a voice that says, “Grieve not for me.”
Remember the best times, the laughter, the song;
The good life I lived while I was strong.
Continue my heritage, I’m counting on you.
Keep smiling and surely the sun will shine through.
My mind is at ease, my soul is at rest,
Remembering all, how I truly was blessed.
Continue traditions, no matter how small,
Go on with your life, don’t worry about falls.
I miss you all dearly, so keep up your chin,
Until the day comes we’re together again.
Pam Ayres
With these hands so soft and clean,
On which I stroke the Vaseline.
I soothe the fever, cool the heat,
Lift verruca out of feet.
Slap the plasters on the knees,
Dig the garden, prune the trees.
And if it doesn’t work at all,
I throw the mower at the wall.
With these hands I crack the eggs,
Floss my teeth, shave my legs.
Write the cheques, count the fivers,
Make rude signs at piggish drivers.
Clean the goldfish, light the fires,
Pump up half a dozen tyres.
Feed the hamster, worm the dog,
And decorate the Yuletide log.
With these hands I block the lens,
When taking photos of my friends.
This is Mary, this is Fred,
See their eyeballs all gone red.
With them I gesticulate,
I wag a finger, say, ‘You’re late!’
Throw them up, say, “Don’t ask me!”
And, ‘What’s that in your hand? Let’s see!’
With these hands, I fondly make,
A brontosaurus birthday cake.
I’m sorry for the shape it’s in,
But half of it stuck in the tin.
I pop the corn, I pick the mix,
I whack a cricket ball for six.
I organise the party game,
And clean up things too vile to name.
No pair of jeans do I refuse,
No Levis, Wranglers or FUs.
I wash them fast, I mend them quick,
I sew through denim hard and thick.
For no repair job makes me frown,
I take them up, I let them down.
I do the fly, I do the rip,
I do the knee, I do the zip.
And with these hands I dab the eyes,
Officiate at fond goodbyes,
As in the earth we gravely dig,
The late lamented guinea pig.
I bow my head, cross my chest,
And lay his furry soul to rest,
Reflecting that, on many a day,
I could have helped him on his way.
I greet the folks who bang the door,
Fill the mouths that shout for more.
Scrape the trainers free of muck,
Gut the fish and stuff the duck.
I cart the shopping, heave the coal,
Stick the plunger down the bowl.
Take foreign bodies from the eye,
And with these hands… I wave Goodbye.
Elisabeth Morgan
I’ve had a truly marvellous life,
And it was time to go.
I’ve had a really lovely wife (I’ve had a lovely “Mr. Right”),
And the best kids you could know.
I’ve done the things I’ve wanted to,
And some I probably shouldn’t.
But if you asked me honestly,
Change anything? No, I wouldn’t.
Just remember while you’ve got the chance,
To show you really care.
To do those things with no regrets,
And live, and love, and share.
Now don’t be sad because I’ve gone,
We’ve all got to go some day.
Just use the best I’ve given you,
And live your life… your way.
Elisabeth Morgan
One day the sun will shine again,
Today there is only rain.
One day the hurt will ease away,
For now, there’s only pain.
Don’t tell me I’ll get over this,
Or “get on with my life.”
Please don’t casually devalue,
The love of man and wife.
It takes us many, many years,
To know each other’s way.
To know the other’s thoughts and wants,
Before we hear them say.
The bond between my love and me,
Will forever be deep and true.
You have to live a lifelong love,
To understand it too.
This grief will never go away,
Our love’s deep in my heart.
Somehow, I’ll manage day to day,
And when I’m ready, I’ll start.
Elisabeth Morgan
It’s hard to imagine when you look at us now,
The times we had, when we knew how.
We were once young, and full of life,
Long before old husband and wife.
With cautious approval from our mothers,
We couldn’t wait to see each other.
That innocent romance, that stolen kiss,
Each moment much too precious to miss.
The local dance, a chance to touch,
To hold each other, just enough.
To feel the warmth and love from you,
The foundations of the love that grew.
Our love, like dancing, kept us in time,
The rhythms and steps, a loving bind.
And now you’re gone, the dancing has too,
And I’ll never dance with another you.
Elisabeth Morgan
We spent so long together,
my darling, you and me.
We always truly believed that,
what will be, will be.
We knew that one must go first,
both hoping to be last.
Each wanting to care for the other,
as we had done in the past.
And then, my darling sweetheart,
you gently slipped away.
Leaving me alone,
to wait for my own special day.
Our family and friends were here,
giving comfort and love to me.
They all did their very best
but didn’t really see.
My life had ended the day you left,
their love just wasn’t enough.
My life without you was just empty,
and oh, so very tough.
And now I am back beside you,
we are complete at last.
Wrapped around each other,
no longer broken hearts.
Elisabeth Morgan
The growing years, the start of life,
Young sweethearts, not yet man and wife.
We had our dreams, our wishes and hopes,
Our lives ahead, we’d learn the ropes.
We made our promises, and kept them too,
Young man and wife, from me to you.
Rich in love, but poor in money,
But life was good, and the future sunny.
How blessed were we, when our babies came,
Our lives would never be the same.
The joy our children brought was immense,
Our family complete; life all made sense.
And then our years just seemed to fly,
Our precious memories rushing by.
Each passing year brought so much love,
Our lives fulfilled, release the doves.
We promised each other “till death do us part,”
And meant forever, with both of our hearts.
And now it’s time, and we’re not going alone,
We’re going together, to find our new home.
Our love’s for a lifetime, and afterwards too,
We’re meant to be together, me and you.
Be happy for us, this is how it’s meant to be,
Nothing can part us now, your (mother/father) and me.
Elisabeth Morgan
It sat silhouetted on the crematorium tower,
Sitting quietly in a summer shower.
I wondered what it was waiting for,
Until I heard the chapel door.
The family walked out into the street,
With tears of sadness, but some so sweet.
They’d said their goodbyes to their grandma dear,
But comforted said they’d felt Grandad was near.
And still it waited on the old brick tower,
And shortly afterwards, felt the crematorium’s power.
As Grandma’s remains became silver dust,
The smoke rose slowly, in gentle grey gusts.
And as the smoke went high into the sky,
The big black bird gave such a happy sigh.
He’d waited ages to see this sight,
And now, with Grandma, took his final flight.
Elisabeth Morgan
“Always well presented”
Was how she was described.
She’d walk into a room,
And almost seemed to glide.
She always dressed to look her best,
With blended clothes and style.
Her make-up fresh and lovely,
Even though it took a while.
When people complimented her,
She thanked them with real grace.
She never took it to her head,
Just smiled across her face.
She always looked so beautiful,
But it came from within.
It wasn’t just the way she looked,
So elegant and trim.
Her beauty was within her soul,
Radiating kindness and love to you.
Not superficial, or painted on,
But real beauty, pure, and true.
Elisabeth Morgan
Oh, to be in Wales again,
The green fields and refreshing rain.
The rolling hills, free grazing sheep,
The autumn leaves, blown into heaps.
A hillside cottage with twinkling lights,
The cosy feel on winter’s nights.
With open fire and crackling logs,
All cwtched up in snuggly togs.
And in the spring, the windblown flowers,
As we walked and walked across the Gower.
And the laughter, fun, the rough and tumbles,
Our childhood visits to the wonderful Mumbles.
But oh, to be back in Wales again,
After many years, some things will be the same.
But even change can’t break Welsh hwyl,
Oh, to be back on rich Welsh soil.
Elisabeth Morgan
I am content to sit alone,
With comfort from a weighty tome.
I don’t know what it is with books,
Perhaps their feel, perhaps their looks.
I find my favourite comfy chair,
And sit awhile and sometimes stare
Along my bookshelf, short and stout,
To choose the next book I’ll take out.
I like to choose all different styles,
To keep me company for a while.
Sometimes a mystery, sometimes a crime,
The joys of reading when I have time.
An old romance, a poem or two,
Or maybe just my Sudoku.
But often I just purely lust
For an old book, that smells of dust.
Thank you books, for bringing me pleasure,
Company through my stormy weather.
Thank you for being there all the time,
And thanks to you, I’ve been just fine.
Elisabeth Morgan
He loved us loads;
He loved sport more.
He wouldn’t miss a football score.
Dinner could be on the table,
And he’d get to it… if he was able
… And the match had finished.
The newspaper would come through the door,
And briefly bounce upon the floor,
… Before vanishing into the loo.
The TV zapper was in his hand,
You’d think he was in the football stand,
…The sofa supporter’s cheers.
Oh Lord it’s now the rugby season,
Changing sport, another reason,
… To keep the zapper and coach the team.
And through the year, he enjoyed the lot.
Incredible knowledge, and prime sofa spot,
…A happy man, home and content.
He loved sport loads;
He loved us more.
But he still wouldn’t miss a football score!