25 Beautiful Poems for Funerals

I wade into the surf and stand alone

                    enfolding in my arms, the dust of You

                              I hear the raving wind lament and moan

          as if the summer storm is mourning, too ...



how sweet, the tender moments on these sands

                    'midst moonbeams or the sun, love unrehearsed

                              how oft' we spoke of these dear mortal plans

          I never dreamed that you would be the first ... 



I breathe your wispy ashes as they're thrown

                    and whisper your name softly while I do

                              I lost you once, and now I've lost again

          as all my tears are lost ... in summer rain.






~ 1st Place ~  in the "N/A Re-Run" Poetry Contest, John Hamilton, Judge & Sponsor.

(N/A'd on February 13, 2019, "2019 Poetry Marathon Mile 17" Poetry Contest)

          ~

~ 1st Place ~  in the "Funeral, Eulogy, Or Memorial Service" Poetry Contest, Team Poetry Soup, Judge & Sponsor.

(I call this form "Dodici Rima" or Broken Rhyme of twelve lines)
...

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IF DEATH SHOULD VISIT ME TODAY
Whether young or old and gray
As earthly life is swept away
Please do not mourn, do not be sad
Just think of joy yet to be had.
Set loose from flesh- forever free
To sail a calmer, endless sea
Eternity, my new-found home
Within which I will freely roam
Inside a greater spirit shell
For then my soul will grow and dwell
Upon the peace, I will collect.
But most of all, you must reflect
We'll meet again in time, my dears
In other worlds- in other years
Beyond the light of cosmic ray
Beyond the sight of human clay
IF DEATH SHOULD VISIT ME TODAY


September 24, 2014


Premiere Contest: The Last Love Letter
Sponsor: Mystic Rose Rose

~2nd Place~
Premiere Contest: Funeral, Eulogy, or Memorial Service Poem
Sponsor: Team PoetrySoup
Judged: 07/02/2019

~2nd Place~
Contest: Any Sad Poem
Sponsor: Broken Wings
Judged: 11/03/2015

This is a reversible poem (can be read up or down) that I wrote years ago,
and which will be a part of MY eulogy when I pass, to help my loved-ones 
cope with knowing that I will be okay....

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If I could will my heart to stop
and breathe a final breath
I'd sit beneath an old oak tree
and trade my life for death

The pain in life of losing you
is more than I can bear
how can a man be happy when
his better half's not there

Life's meaning's gone when I lost you
no purpose can I find
for you were but the reason i
loved life and cherished time

I cannot will my heart to stop
I'm waiting for the sign
from God to show His mercy to
unite us one more time...

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Written by Gail DeBole
In memory of my grandfather

Nice Day For a Funeral

I
(You were always old.  I can't remember a
time when you were not.)

Cried
(And you had no past before the first time I
became aware of your presence.)

When
(The weather huddled the mourners together.
It was a cold day, but the sun was out to pay its respects, also.)

They
(I huddled with the rest.  Echos of
the service left a sad taste in my soul.)

Lowered
(The Rabbi had spoken of you like an old friend.)

Your
(And convinced me of your close 
lifelong brotherhood with him.)

Casket.


Funeral, Eulogy, or Memorial Service Poetry Contest
Sixth Place...

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   Panacea
       
Panacea…       
Goodbye, my love, do not fear, I am here, no more tear.
   Dear dear, no more fear, in my dream, reappear, reappear.
Wake up dear, can you hear? Wake up, my love, fly like dove.
   I am here; kiss me dear, mommy dear, I am near.
With my two eyes, I taste your lips; panacea was all your kiss.
   I am aware, from far away, go, my dear, with no more fear.
Your love, my world, your love my book, you're the world, I was the look,
   Your voice shall chant in my silence, I can hear, so clear.
Come back, dear, I am in pain; I need to see, come back to me.
   Pain and darkness, night and silence, all are here; I am here.
Lonely I am, silent shadows calling your name, always the same.
   Go, my dear, go to heaven, all the angels full of cheer.
Without your touch, nothing feels right; my days are night,
   My nights are long, full of fear; what do I need? A burning spear.
Your world, “Haloo” shattered with pain, tears falling, falling like rain;
   Panacea is just a dream; I just want to disappear.

For Mom
10/27/16 Haloo...

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LET OUR MEMORIES BE THE BRIDGE
(Written for my dear friend Mike Guest NZ)
(an Eulogy from afar)

For those of you that gather this day
With individual memories to savour
Use them all to build a busy highway
A bridge to cross with words of favour.
While across the miles with love that remains strong
Knowing your book of life now can be signed
We’ll remember the words of the song
You’ll always be on my mind.

 © Harry J Horsman 2018...

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You miss them more than cards can say
and think of them throughout the day.
Yet memories fond will bring a smile,
giving sadness chase awhile.

Material things that they may leave
are cherished tokens as you grieve.
Yet keepsakes sometimes can't replace
caressing of your loved one’s face.

How to abide this heavy heart, 
the tear-soaked cheek, the silent dark?
Yet as you grieve kind words folks say
will brighten up this cruel day.

You may shed a sea of tears
thinking back on all the years.
Yet healing’s in the teardrop’s stain
which cleanses deep your grief and pain.

Life prevails beyond death’s door.
It lives in spirit evermore.
Yet as you grieve, your love for them
will never, ever, ever, end.

6/22/19

Funeral, Eulogy, or Memorial Service Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Team PoetrySoup...

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What beauty shared with carefree steps,
your laughing heart would trip with grace
and lift our spirits as you slept -
a soul that's swept to our embrace.

Unfurrowed brow with silken cheeks
that blush with youthful innocence,
now safe within a world we'll seek
when all our days on earth are spent.

So wait Dear Heart, we will be there -
older and with tell-tale traces
from smiles of stories that we shared
reminded of your lovely face.

In time, my darling, we will come
to find you still forever young....

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XIX
September flowers sadly bloom at night
Whose subtle fragrance quickly pass away
In light their vestal beauty hid from sight. 
Confused at being planted by the way
Those treading sorrow's path at twilight weep.
Because of grievous troubles had been spent
And lost a treasure that they could not keep.
Did gain much consolation from their scent
He wipes their tears with petals soft that finds
A secret grief whose heart of those exclude
The hollow words of such offend the mind
Late flowers bloom, kind fragrances exudes
   September flowers do reveal such light
   They truly weep who do so well at night...

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Best Friends
Tom Wright

When close friends depart this life,
And voice, by time, is stilled.
There's left within our hearts a void,
With fond memories to be filled.

In dawns muted hours, I still recall,
Jerry's witticism as if today.
Though recent years have bolted,
Since time whispered him away.

Theretofore I'd regarded not pain,
As being part of our friendship's cost.
Until death's gurney slowly passed,
And I beheld the friend I'd lost.
...

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The mystery of life oft demanding
Well beyond our Earthly understanding
Camera flash like a blink of an eye
From our birth until the day that we die

Time to grieve those that leave, inadequate
Unplanned plans demand that we have to wait
Sleep, shelter, bodies cry for sustenance
Life will not wait long for death’s remembrance

Memories like a breeze gently blow by
What or when, now or then, we don’t know why
So, forgive us oh dearly departed
Your memorial so short since started

We shall soon see the rest of your story
Reunited in white lighted glory


Perrin Peacock
June 16, 2018...

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Cry with no sorrow, for sorrow is small
Do not hold me guilty for choices made
Reflections you own hang on your mind's wall
Hold them very close, one day they will fade
My time passed without a sense of motion
My dreams now silent with darkness I'm in
The life I traveled with love's emotion
Leads from this world, not to be seen again
I sought life out filled with all my desires
And tried to capture perfection I found
I saw my way lighted by hopeful fires
And chose a clearer path to faithful ground
The longest journey was my lifetime spent
Hurried times I traveled,  without lament



6/21/19...

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A life beyond death, what might this be?
  Where and how may such life be found?
Whenever, what will it mean for me,
  with all to whom in love I'm bound?
Beyond measured distance, mass and time,
  how will it be when death has passed?
– above my imagination's climb,
  over horizon's view outcast.

Somehow together with all I've ever met
  of hurt and wrong, of love and beauty fair,
will I feel an eternity of regret?
  – or rising peace with laughs and joy to share?
May all in the Reconciler's embrace
be held with Christ, at one in God by grace....

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Beneath a comfortless, cold moon,
a rose was pluck too soon  -
Perhaps it’s not so:
	for he is now living,
	and we are dying…
God only collected another Angel.

Still, I wept as I had never wept,
stripped bare of hope and everything.
Within me an ever-louder wind  -
a pain that throbs with an un-keen sting.
I looked up at the heaven’s mysterious face,
with all my soul within me burning:
	“Dear heart, be still a moment!
	God had only lent him to the world.”...

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Life was at its normal pace
With men running their assumed race
There were merry times
and of course times of pain
But when i felt alone there was a man to  bless like rain

He always gave advice
As he was old and wise
We took it as a burden
But now we ask for pardon
  
He never failed on duty
And that gave him his beauty
Truth was his only path
But we always showed our wrath 

He loved us with his heart
And it made us difficult to part
When God called his name
Spreading around his fame

He loved to see us flourish 
And taught us how to cherish 
Each piece of time
Without committing crime

As the years passed
He grew old and feeble
But he was often harassed 
Not aware he was enfeeble

His mouth was always closed by us
But now it turned  to be a fuss
His voice filled the entire house
Teaching us with a hope to espouse

As every member turned away,
He turned very dull and grey;
God felt it was time to end
To take the soul he once did lend

Everyone were fast asleep
He took a place in heart so deep
He left the world to meet the God
And the whole was a game of lord

We cried, we wept, but it was late
To change the pre- planned dynamic fate
We heard the people praise him well 
That God would surely abondon hell

Then a hope did fill our mind:
That God would surely help us bind
With my praiseworthy  granddad
In the paradise God would add!...

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We did not want to say goodbye

You shared the best you were with us
And placed our lives above your own
You comforted and lifted up
And sheltered us and made our home

We did not want to say goodbye

For every time our thoughts of you
In memories seemed so alive
With dreams of things that we would do
But now, though late, we realize

We did not want to say goodbye

And though life’s purpose is not clear
We learn that time demands its due
Yet love, once shared, won’t disappear
And while we’re living … nor shall you

We did not want to say goodbye

But now we must, for you have left
And though we’ll dream of yesterday
You leave us sad, yet truly blessed
So now with all our love we say

… Goodbye...

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Once I paused, with my dusty feet
Braving the heat, to cast a mournful look
At the fancy graves along cemetery street;
The erect old brown stones too are hard to overlook;
They must be fine places of rest, perhaps,
Or mere monuments in memory of fallen hopes.

I cast my eyes upwards, and hearken my ears
To the mourning figures descending slowly,
Accompanied by grieve and heavy downpour of tears,
Bearing with them, the remains of an infant boy
Who is kept still and mumchanced by the joyless titan.
The mother, crestfallen, mumbles indistinctly: "I'll miss you son".

Here today, I walk through slippery slope
Through the condensed silence of the graveside
Sharing in the moistened mucus from heaven's nose
While it mourns the unborn echoes of those inside.
They belong to the brave; fallen and forgotten
Whose priceless memories cast in our heart heavy burden.

How soon these memories fade!
They pass in silence and are gone forever.
But we, the world, remain and always upgrade;
Washing ourselves clean over and over
Like pebbles are washed clean on the seashore
Or footprints of yesterday by waves of nevermore.

The inn that sheltered the journeying man
At the going down of the sun,
No matter how comfortable, is not his destination.
They are where memory cannot cheat them again
They are now where age does not border them
They remember us who remember them....

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This someone you loved, died,
It is hard to find the words to describe.
I wrote a poem that might comfort you –Now-
~
To the grieving family--------

O’ what a borrower,  I am;
What a borrower, we are;
It’s hard to materialize;
These tears that we would cry;
Tho! This soul has passed away;
We were honored true;
~
Surely we shall remain;
In comfort with memories;
Of our loved one whose been taken;
Onto, onto to glory, this we’re not mistaken;
Who are we but just partakers?
We are borrowers…
~
God grant us to be together;
Alas now and maybe in the forever;
Shed no tears, sadden not be;
In mercies grace and heaven we’ll see;
Back to the dust, alas I’m eternal spirit-soul;
Miss you yes… But I know you’ve gone on with the Lord;
You were not really totally ours…
For you are, (you’re) borrowed from God
You were… 

6/22/19

For Funeral, Eulogy, or Memorial Service Poetry Contest Cash Prize Poetry Contest.
Sponsored by: Team PoetrySoup...

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I will not weep for you.
Too often did the tears rise and fall
    like salted hourglasses holding the deluge back.
You slipped away quiet, unheard by the clock on the wall
    and our rainbow world slipped into black.

I shall weep again.
Memory and heartache go hand in hand
     and the slightest thing tugs at my heart.
You were my everything, my greatest fan
     yet death's distance draws us apart.

I have cried a million tears.
Still your face lies clear in my blurred eyes
    and as I wipe them all away
my heart asks and wonders why
    you could not stay....

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Death froze still the warmth of your blood
lustre of your twinkling eyes stolen forever.
Breathless moribund weary days, now gone
in soundless sleep, a soul rises to endeavor.
  
We could not save you, the curtain fell down
our heavy hearts, your numb voice and face
in a walkaway of tears, you depart from us
beyond the light, perhaps to a better place.

You will no longer look at us anymore 
 that laughter will never spring again.
 Every time we'll look at your photo 
 We will call you back to ease our pain. 




24th June 2019
Sponsor	Team PoetrySoup
Contest Funeral, Eulogy, or Memorial Service Poetry...

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The departing of a beloved one 

A poem about offering a eulogy to a loved one that passed away inspired by Ancient Greek Wisdom

When a most beloved one passes away
Only their kind, good deeds remain
To remind us that even if life may lead us astray
The memories of our beloved one brings us together again

As our beloved one departs for paradise
Their great legacy makes us more wise
To consider well our life’s belongings
As their thoughts permeate our soul’s shortcomings

So, let’s pray to our Supreme Lord, God the Almighty
To accompany with His love their soul that passes away
To bless them as they travel to His land of divine harmony
Wishing them ‘bon voyage’ to their journey of eternity

Always taking into deep consideration the following wise saying by Zeno of Citium (father of Stoicism): ‘In the life of an individual man, virtue is the sole good; such things as health, happiness, possessions, are of no account. Since virtue resides in the will, everything really good or bad in a man’s life depends only upon himself’....

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We part under protest 
Hearts aching implore
As angels escort you
To heavens front door
The reason the question 
Our queries ignored
Reluctant we give your
Light back to the Lord
Our Father in heaven 
Extend us your grace
Note that under duress 
Silence stands in your place
If we must endure
Without wondering why
Your motive is suspect
Demands we comply 
His hardest to take
Are the closest to you 
Even God had to give
A life up so we knew 
That forever he loved us
Not one, two, or few,
But all are his children 
He suffers death too...

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I stand at the doors of the funeral room afraid,
afraid-  of how I am going to get through this day;
knowing the end was coming did not prepare me mother,
no one is ever ready for a beloved's last gasp of life.

Inside the room, I gulp my sorrow and stand frozen,
the room glows with soft hues of many rose pink flowers;
in peace you lay with all the ravages of illness erased,
and inside your coffin you are wearing your rose pink dress.

I know this moment will be with me for the rest of my life,
just you and me alone-   with the scent of roses wrapped around us;
oh, I am filled with emotions and my body feels like a heavy stone,
my heart is completely and totally shattered and forever broken.

There is nothing, I could have done to keep you alive,
because I would have-  I feel hallow inside, lost and I hurt all over;
but you have always taught me to be strong and have courage,
so, I whisper-  love you mommy and touch your cold folded hands.

And I kiss your lips with words just for us;
till I see you again mother . . .   until then . . . g o o d b y e. 

Then, I put on a smiling mask and greet your visitors . . .

______________________________
June 21, 2019

Poetry/Verse/The Funeral
Copyright Protected, ID 19- 1159-180-02
All Rights Reserved.  Written under Pseudonym....

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At the end of the long walk on the rough road
Under the twilight sky of the setting sun
You might look back at the fading footprints
You will hear they find a frail voice and tell you
To write a eulogy for you before the sun sets.

The footprints will take you along the reversed time
You will search within the archive life has made
Find among many other footprints already erased
Some indelibly preserved in a remote corner
That would configure you in their own manner
As a responsible son who imbibed the life’s values
A loving husband who shared everything life gave
A caring father who showed the children dreams
A decent human being who found good in everything
An optimist who would live content in residual time.

Eulogy is not a statement of self proclamation 
But a commitment of the uncaving conviction
That reflects what you tried and wanted to be
For others to validate when you won’t be.

June 26, 2019...

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Whether expected or not it is always a shock,
When a Loved One is taken by God’s clock,
And memories quickly start to race,
To remember a place or loving embrace,
Which helps for a while but cannot replace,
A tender touch or laughing face.

But we are built with the means to survive,
A force that drives us throughout our lives,
That keeps us strong at times like these,
 And will only see us on our knees,
When our eyes are closed as we pray,
For those we love who have passed away.

Now the pain will lessen but will never leave,
And in some small way we shall always grieve,
Like when a special day the calendar brings,
And we once again remember things,
Things that were so much a part of our lives,
That we will always remember till our own demise....

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