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Poems for the loss of a loved one: words that comfort and heal

Poems for the loss of a loved one: words that comfort and heal

Poems for the loss of a loved one: Mourners seated in a serene funeral setting, reflecting and finding comfort through poetry and remembrance of their loved one.

Poetry has a unique ability to convey emotions and bring comfort during times of loss. When words fail us, poems for funerals or memorials can articulate our grief, honour a loved one, and provide solace. This comprehensive guide by experts at Griefline curates some of the most poignant and popular poems for loss of a loved one, including funeral poems, goodbye poems, and tributes to those we hold dear.

Classic funeral poems for the loss of a loved one

Funeral poems are often chosen to express love, loss, and remembrance. Here are some classic selections:

"Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep" by Clare Harner, The Gypsy

This timeless poem for loss of a loved one reassures us that the gone live on in nature and in our hearts:  

Do not stand  

          By my grave, and weep.  

     I am not there,  

          I do not sleep—  

I am the thousand winds that blow  

I am the diamond glints in snow  

I am the sunlight on ripened grain,  

I am the gentle, autumn rain.  

As you awake with morning’s hush,  

I am the swift, up-flinging rush  

Of quiet birds in circling flight,  

I am the day transcending night.  

     Do not stand  

          By my grave, and cry—  

     I am not there,  

          I did not die.  

"Remember" by Christina Rossetti

A heartfelt poem about cherishing memories:  

Remember me when I am gone away,  

         Gone far away into the silent land;  

         When you can no more hold me by the hand,  

Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.  

Remember me when no more day by day  

         You tell me of our future that you plann’d:  

         Only remember me; you understand  

It will be late to counsel then or pray.  

Yet if you should forget me for a while  

         And afterwards remember, do not grieve:  

         For if the darkness and corruption leave  

         A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,  

Better by far you should forget and smile  

         Than that you should remember and be sad.  

"Funeral Blues" by W.H. Auden

A powerful poem capturing the depth of grief:  

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,  

Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,  

Silence the pianos and with muffled drum  

Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.  

  

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead  

Scribbling on the sky the message ‘He is Dead’.  

Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,  

Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.  

  

He was my North, my South, my East and West,  

My working week and my Sunday rest,  

My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;  

I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.  

  

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one,  

Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun,  

Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood;  

For nothing now can ever come to any good.  

Uplifting and inspirational poems for the loss of a loved one

These poems for funerals offer a sense of hope and celebrate the life of the departed.

"The Dash" by Linda Ellis

This poem highlights the importance of how we live our lives:  

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 that 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?  

"Let Me Go" by Christina Rossetti

A gentle reminder to let go and celebrate life:  

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 the friends we know.  

Laugh at all the things we used to do  

Miss me, but let me go.  

When I am dead my dearest  

Sing no sad songs for me  

Plant thou no roses at my head  

Nor shady cypress tree  

Be the green grass above me  

With showers and dewdrops wet  

And if thou wilt remember  

And if thou wilt, forget.  

I shall not see the shadows,  

I shall not fear the rain;  

I shall not hear the nightingale  

Sing on as if in pain;  

And dreaming through the twilight  

That doth not rise nor set,  

Haply I may remember,  

And haply may forget.  

Goodbye poems for funerals for the loss of a loved one

Goodbye poems are a touching way to say farewell.

"Miss Me But Let Me Go" by Edgar A. Guest

A poem about letting go with love:  

When I come to the end of the road,  

and the sun has set for me,  

I want no tears in a gloom filled room.  

Why cry for a soul set free?  

Miss me a little, but not too much,  

and not with your head bowed low.  

Remember the love that once we shared,  

Miss me, but let me go.  

This is a journey we all must take  

and each must take alone;  

it’s all part of God’s perfect plan,  

a step on the road to home.  

When you are lonely and sick of heart  

go to the friends we know.  

Bury your sorrows in doing good,  

Miss me, but let me go.  

"Gone From My Sight" by Henry Van Dyke

This beautiful metaphor compares death to a ship sailing into the horizon:  

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,  

spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts  

for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.  

I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck  

of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.  

Then, someone at my side says, “There, she is gone.”  

Gone where?  

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,  

hull and spar as she was when she left my side.  

And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.  

Her diminished size is in me — not in her.  

And, just at the moment when someone says, “There, she is gone,”  

there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices  

ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes!”  

And that is dying…  

Poems that praise a loved one

When you want to celebrate the life and legacy of the deceased, these poems can help.

"She Is Gone" by David Harkins

This poem encourages us to remember with gratitude:  

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.  

Short and simple funeral quotes

For those looking for concise and impactful words, these short funeral Quotes are perfect:

  • “Forever in our hearts.”
  • “Gone but not forgotten.”
  • “Your memory will live on in all of us.”
  • “You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.”
Modern poems for the loss of a loved one

Modern poetry often resonates deeply due to its relatability and emotional depth.

"When Great Trees Fall" by Maya Angelou

A profound reflection on loss:

When great trees fall,


rocks on distant hills shudder,


lions hunker down


in tall grasses,


and even elephants


lumber after safety.



When great trees fall


in forests,


small things recoil into silence,


their senses


eroded beyond fear.



When great souls die,


the air around us becomes


light, rare, sterile.


We breathe, briefly.

Our eyes, briefly,


see with


a hurtful clarity.


Our memory, suddenly sharpened,


examines,


gnaws on kind words


unsaid,


promised walks


never taken.


Great souls die and


our reality, bound to


them, takes leave of us.


Our souls,


dependent upon their


nurture,


now shrink, wizened.


Our minds, formed


and informed by their


radiance,
fall away.


We are not so much maddened


as reduced to the unutterable ignorance
of

dark, cold


caves.



And when great souls die,


after a period peace blooms,


slowly and always


irregularly. Spaces fill


with a kind of


soothing electric vibration.


Our senses, restored, never


to be the same, whisper to us.


They existed. They existed.


We can be. Be and be


better. For they existed.

"You’ve Just Walked On Ahead of Me" by Joyce Grenfell

A comforting poem about continuing bonds:

You’ve Just Walked On Ahead

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.

More about poems for the loss of a loved one

Considerations for Choosing a Poem for a Loved One’s Funeral

  1. Reflect the Person’s Personality: Choose a poem that captures the essence of your loved one. Consider their interests, passions, and the way they lived their life.
  1. Tone of the Poem: Think about whether you want the poem to be uplifting, reflective, or comforting. A balance of honouring the person’s life while acknowledging the sadness of the moment is important.
  1. Religious or Spiritual Beliefs: If your loved one had a particular faith, select a poem that aligns with their religious or spiritual views, offering solace in a familiar context.
  1. Connection to the deceased: Opt for a poem that has personal significance—maybe a favourite verse they loved, or one that reminds you of a cherished memory with them.
  1. Audience sensitivity: Be mindful of the tone and content of the poem for those in attendance. Choose words that provide comfort, while being considerate of the emotional needs of the mourners.
  1. Length of the poem: Keep the length appropriate for the service. Shorter poems may be better suited for readings, while longer ones could serve as a reflection or part of a eulogy.
  1. Language and imagery: Select a poem that speaks clearly to the emotions you want to convey. Choose words and imagery that resonate deeply with the message you wish to share.
  1. Cultural or familial traditions: Consider any cultural or familial traditions that might influence the style or type of poem chosen.
  1. Timelessness: Opt for a poem that will stand the test of time, not only for the service but also as something that can be revisited by family and friends in the years to come.
  1. Personal connection to the poet: If the poem is written by someone meaningful, it can add an extra layer of significance to the service.
What poem is often read at funerals?

Popular choices include “Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep” by Mary Elizabeth Frye and “Remember” by Christina Rossetti.

What is a good goodbye poem for a funeral?

“Miss Me But Let Me Go” by Edgar A. Guest and “Gone From My Sight” by Henry Van Dyke are touching options.

What is a poem that praises someone who has died?

“She Is Gone” by David Harkins and “Success” by Ralph Waldo Emerson celebrate the lives of loved ones.

Poems for loss of a loved one and memorials can bring immense comfort, honour the memory of loved ones, and help the grieving process. Whether you’re planning a service or seeking solace, these poems remind us of the enduring power of words.

Need more support through your grief journey? Visit our Grief and Loss Resource hub to get educated about grief or join our online forums to find people going through the same hard time as you.

Grief resources in australia

Songs for the Loss of a Loved One: A Guide to Healing Through Music

Movies About Grief: Understanding Loss Through Film

Dealing with Grief During the New Year: Finding Comfort and Hope

Grief: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding and Navigating Loss

Quotes and About the Loss of a Loved One: Finding Reliable Comfort in Words

Poems of Sorrow and Grieving

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