Best Family Funeral Poems
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
The 18th of December was her last day;
she neither knew the date nor cared to.
Gathered at the hospital, keeping vigil,
we never overcame her fright, or ours.
The pain, too great to be driven away,
was only managed with IV drips,
needles stuck in bruised appendages --
bony things, arms and legs, hands and feet.
Above the medicines and washes,
we sniffed her scent, which, more
than her familiar face, identified our mother --
a smell we never could mistake for any other.
It went quickly as her body cooled.
The rouged and pickled carcass they
displayed was more a statue than a person.
We planned to bury her with homely tokens,
like an ancient mummy: a family photo,
a brooch she liked, a pink hairbrush --
and the brass bell she rang to call
her keeper during her last years.
But, when the time came, I could not
bear to see her leave so finally.
I took the bell from her metal box.
Now, I ring it -- not to bring a keeper,
but to recall my mother on her birthday,
and on many dark days when I need her.
All were gone in the gust of wind.
Not yet fully grown up into a woman
She was to leave home for a man.
What type of rules are they that bind?
Young girls to quit family for another
And before time, be already a mother.
None ever bothered to know her mind.
Before she could understand her roles,
Confined she was to daily filling of bowls
And nursing babies, to which she resigned.
One day, he died, taking his own life.
Blame she carried of being a bad wife.
Their boy and girl he cruelly left behind.
In hardship for a living, she was hurled.
Hoping her angels would change her world,
Night and day, she toiled blind.
One day, she slept such a sleep deep;
Her lovely angels forever went to sleep
As if fate had kept bad luck all aligned;
For an accidental flame to give them a skelp.
She did not hear them crying for help
While they burnt alive in room confined!
28/08/16
Contest:Best Sad Poem EVER - Laura Loo (Placed 2nd)
Based on a real incident where two adolescents burned alive last week
on the first floor. The mother did hear them crying for help but too late.
(Partly fictional)
When time moves on
And we have to stop to say goodbye
My how it reminds us how time flies by
Oh why must we say goodbye
When that just makes us want to cry
As I sigh and ask God why
I try to remember its part of Gods plan
Even if man doesn't understand
She gets to go to his wonderland
Where she has earned her way
So let us pray for a happy reunion someday
She would say that its ok
That God came to take her away
Way up beyond the sky where the angels play
With God by her side
When time moves on and we must say goodbye
Let us not ask ourselves why
That just makes us want to cry
Let us be better off for knowing
Her glowing presence that she was in life
We are all better off
For the memories, we shared along the way
She would say to never let your
Rainbows fade away
Because time moves on
And we all live our lives day after day
So when you pray don't worry I'm ok
That it's my turn for God to take me away
Where I will be waiting for you someday
Let me say when time moves on
And we find ourselves remembering
The memories we made each day
So let us pray because today
I'm on my way up beyond the sky
where the angels play
I want you all to know I planned it that way
With God guiding me as we sway
Every step of the way
I will be looking for you when you pray
Because when time moves on
It's really not goodbye
So try not to ask why it's part of Gods plan
Even if man doesn't understand
I love you all very much
So let us all stay in touch when you pray
I will be listening and watching
Overall of you with God by my side
Understand we must all take this ride
So lets not all hide behind
But rather let's celebrate my life today
Because I planned it this way
And I get to be with God day after day so I will be ok
Think of me when you pray
Because I'm in heaven with God in every way
This is my special day
Think of me when you pray each day
I will never be far away
V
He once was among us
as loving as could be
always helpful to others
Never letting us see
See the pain behind the smile
of a once handsome man
A great father to his kids
always taking a stand
A hero he was
to me in that house
Always making me laugh
piggy back rides a must
Pulling out the tug
Muscle poses in the mirror
Joy and laughter
even though there was fear
He went through a lot
you all just can't imagine
and all though he had some downfalls
he had so much compassion
Its been a short while
and although i don't understand why
what happened that December night
will always make me cry
I lost my hero
my uncle and best friend
i miss him a lot
the memories will never end
And now all i have
is the pictures to show
of that familiar happy face
i used to know
The angels did decide
to take god his son
forever in the heavens
He was a chosen one
They hate his drinking -
But they put his ashes in …
A wine bottle urn.
7/21/14
When I think of my dear Aunt Sheila
A great big smile comes across my face
You see, no matter what the circumstances in life
Her will would never break
Compassionate love she gave to all
Evident in all of her blissful ways
Family was first, this I know for sure
In all of her caring days
Oh my dear Aunt Sheila had herself a wit
With a smile at least a mile long
Whether she was conversing with friends or family
Heck even listening to a good ol' country song
Mother, Aunt, Wife, Sister, Daughter, Grandma and GG-all terms
But one describes her just right
A beautiful soul always to be missed
An angel living in heavenly sunlight
Go be with Jesus my dearest Aunt
Let your smile brighten Heavens gate
For we know we shall see you again
In Paradise-where you await
Cigarettes are gross.
They can really kill you too
Dead. Gone. Forever
In the summer of 2007, God received an angel.
The Angels name was Katie.
Katie was sweet & Katie was good
But I guess God wanted sweet old Katie
Out of the hood.
She did all she could, she gave all she had
But never in her life treated anyone bad.
Jesus, I know that she’s good
I know that she is great
But sometimes I just hate,
Hate that she is gone
Hate that she is away
I think about her everyday.
Everyone & Everything is changing
Family is falling apart,
Oh why it’s breaking my heart.
Tearing the house down acting like pure clowns
God you got a gift
But sometimes I wish,
Wish you hadn’t took my Angel
Wish you would have let her stay a little longer.
God received an Angel.
The Angels name was Katie
I hope Katie is with me daily
Until I die & visit her in the sky
House is up wholesale, everyone thinking
“WHAT THE HELL”
Angels, Angels, Angels
Angels flying here, Angels flying there
Angels are flying around just about any & everywhere
You took a couple of my families angels in strange ways
I get up in the morning wondering when is my day
& who will be next to depart us.
My heart was broken when you took my Angel
Oh, why did you have to take her,
Her out of all people
She followed the rules and the laws
But I am wondering is that all.
The highway bridges
Remnants of conversation
Clothed in ethereal blue.
Variform clouds
Stark white or gray
Bandage my heart.
Brother’s litany
Of thanksgiving
Floats above my head.
Mom and dad were
Good parents.
They worked hard.
Cemetery gates swallow us
Sleek and black
Like a raven
Plucking its prey.
Attendees’ musings are
Wetness on the
Road’s cheeks
Tactile as a
Cat’s tongue
Freshening the spirit
Words of gratitude
Misty as memory’s yesterday
Rich worked hard
He did very well for himself.
Puzzle pieces fit tightly
Brothers’ faces, Sister’s words
Cathartic like a cloak’s
Feathery embraces.
Drops of rain
Shower blessings
Prayers of thanksgiving
From another time
Diane is a beautiful girl.
Bill is smart.
How is Maureen?
Is he still here?
Yes.
How do I know?
Sunshine branching
Apple twigs glimmering
Meanwhile traffic
Normal as a busy
Day’s waking and sleeping
The wrought iron gates open
Spilling family out
Like white markers with
Blank dates
Today....... we have to say goodbye one last time to you,
For us, your children, it has to be the hardest thing we've had to do!
I know you have left this body before us and yet it seems oh too real,
So many people who loved you,"praying for what they must feel."
We knew this day would come but not yet....it's way to soon.
Begging God for his mercy...."please help us by healing you."
The sun is shining like a warm July,
The patriotic flag waving high in the sky!
I can't help but think, maybe he did save you?
What actually went wrong, why did it happen so soon?
Our lives will never be the same, we'll never talk to you or even hear your voice,
As of today or even tomorrow we will never have that choice.
You have been the teacher of God's word and a child of his grace,
I'm sure the gates of heaven opened up and the Angel's have rejoiced.
But here on earth we are left with the memory and a pain I can't explain,
We cry for no reason, we don't understand what's left to gain?
Car's are lined up around the block, we look back as far as we can see,
Our Mom is so blessed by people she touched and her life a legacy.
Now entering your final place of rest, we're put to the test,
Bishop Jesse begins to say...what a beautiful day she gave us! For God's child to rest.
He say's we are "Celebrating" life of such a great woman of God,
She was a fishermen of men and a teacher of his love,
Her great hope was for all to follow his word.....let us pray,
So many turned their lives over to Jesus on this day.
Amen! She is still bringing people to know him even in his place of rest.
So to you Mom; Fly away my Angel! you are the best!!
There's not much to say.
I knew her, know some things,
but certainly not all.
I know how little she put up with fools,
how her cooking surpassed so many others',
how simultaneously sweet and hard she could be.
I know about her smoking,
about her jewelry, her faith,
all these I'll hold close to me.
Every single spark, every star,
shines with such a glow, such a marvelous radiance,
that we can't gaze too closely at it,
lest we cause ourselves pain.
And yet, despite ourselves, again and again,
we do;
because it's not within us to resist
the sheer beauty of it all,
of stories and of life.
A bouquet of tulips for you.
We all miss you already, Grandma.
I miss you.
I know Heaven's got you, taking no guff as always,
making sure we're all doing alright.
I love you.
Andrew James (McGillicutty) Sprouse
his will is now read
‘vultures’ stand round his coffin ...
pennies from heaven
Inspired by 'families' contest but not for contest!
1st May 2016
The Northern wind to South did blow
and left a kiss upon my brow,
I least care for the other ones,
From where to where the Western runs.
Within the sailcloth’s native flight
down all the oceans could I write,
but good from it can’t come to me
as wonder I at open sea.
You blew me fast on to a shore,
to a sailors will to survey more,
in time did courage I equip,
set sails to my beloved ship,
on a voyage thus I was again,
to shelter once more then attain,
at open sea I wondered long,
Inspecting where the skies went wrong,
why won’t my Northern Wind descend,
when this sailor does on it depend;
but still the promise that I made,
to your choices my silence bade,
when will you see that I had kept,
on stranded days and nights unslept—
my silence close, with lips concealed,
when bitter truth this life revealed,
through torrents that did daunt my being
still vexing moans I kept from fleeing.
If seas could only lives reset
and baptize me to you forget,
would gladly drown in all of them
to this misery just condemn,
but only in my tears design
could I now reach that land of mine
where my silence shall leave me too,
life as a beggar there renew,
upon whose shores I would down lie,
to hearts content then cry and cry.
The Northern wind to South did blow
and left a kiss upon my brow,
I least care for the other ones,
From where to where the Eastern runs.
R.N.Khan, © 2013
a tearful dedication to my lifelong brother, mentor, and friend Adam~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~aug.5, 1964-may 4, 2012
I owe you better than this...You were Heaven sent...
Eyes cascade tears I cry
do you know Y? A. U.C.H. ~ (Y. A.ren't U. C.hillin' H.ere?)
I cry dry...
my ACE of spades, i miss you kid
my mentor
my man
my ILL-est friend
my Superman
my M.C.A.
why'd you have to fly, you'll never die...i cry i cry
the pen leaks
i sink
it stinks it stings i cry i cry
side by side we were A.L.I.V.E.
tho' i can hear Dechen cry, wipe tears from Lo's eye
wings you glide
the rhymes we rhymed, you and i
G -S.O.N. the sky, too short yir' time
the moon should refuse to shine
Losing your duty's shredding my mind i cry i cry
you remain so kind transcending your ending line
I CRY this way I crY I crY and I just do not own the right words to say, just as mc's squared you cared this way
you shared melodies but now this sky's gone to Red from Grey,
i must make it anyway,
but trust when I say
I love you MCA!
* I'm running into walls without you...