Family Elegy Poems | Examples
These Family Elegy poems are examples of Elegy poems about Family. These are the best examples of Elegy Family poems written by international poets.
A Real Bodhisattva
A bodhisattva is the Buddhist equivalent
Of a warrior for Christ, who is well on their way
To being Christlike themselves.
Of course there are many degrees of bodhisattva
From those who only have the wish to be
To those who actually are.
Literally millions are examples of the former.
The Dalai Lama is a good example of the latter.
Real bodhisattvas are rare.
Their hallmark is infinite love and compassion
For all beings
Combined with deep insight
Into the true nature of reality.
This week the world lost a real bodhisattva
In the form of a young American patriot,
Who at just 31 years old
Had successfully reached a whole generation
Galvanizing many young people
To critically look within
And embrace traditional American values
Of family, honesty, integrity, openness,
Love, tolerance, inclusivity, and faith.
And for this he was martyred.
The world is a better place
For having known Charlie Kirk.
But it is certainly not a better place without him
Unless we take up his mantle
Take the torch, and shield and sword
And become real warriors of Christ
Bodhisattvas in the army of truth.
(9/12/25)
From the get-go
My brain played games
Making two plus six hard to learn
Denying reaction to music too.
I found solace in the mop
It never argued back
Or said
“Pina can’t get that.”
Yes, I could.
It was just easier to make you think
I could not.
I married late
Birthed two divine girls
Had no regrets
Smiled to all.
In the end a tumor took me
My brain did not
Fight back.
A force of nature, with a heart so grand,
She walked this earth, a light in the land.
Our Auntie Dana, fierce and free,
Like the hammerhead shark she loved to see.
She navigated life's deepest, darkest seas,
Finding solace and strength on her bended knees.
In the Bible, her compass, she found her way,
Guiding her through each and everyday.
For her three boys, her love knew no bound,
In their triumphs, her greatest joy was found.
Then came the grandkids, a new chapter to start,
Each one a treasure held close to her heart.
Aunt to so many and mother to all,
With laughter and cheer,
she banished our sorrows, our every fear.
Her witty humor, her infectious grin,
A beacon of warmth, from deep within.
Though she faced tempests and trials unkind.
A beautiful spirit, she left behind.
So let her memory live, a whisper on the breeze,
Among the vibrant, sunlit, whispering trees.
A testament to a beautiful, brave, and loving heart,
From which we never, ever, have to part.
Love you Aunt Dana, We will miss you!
ALEXANDRIA
I came late to Jesus,
Got cancer before my time,
Watched my husband die,
Found my baby drowned.
What did I do wrong?
Followed His church’s way,
Never missed a Sunday mass,
Confessed my sins religiously.
Refused to hear the call
For contraception—
That was not God’s way.
I made Him a dozen babies.
Why’d he punish me?
My faith wasn’t always strong.
Still, I never strayed,
Took communion regularly.
I prepare myself to meet my Maker.
Doctor says I only have a day or two.
Jesus, come to me—
Save me from eternal void.
Lamentable, the family gathering
on the other side of sunshine,
with possessions no longer bothering,
sans loving cups, draining of wine.
Great-grands, grands, aunts, uncles, cousins and unborn,
one mom, a nephew, memories
their perspectives (only they carry). Torn,
yellowed pages of treasuries.
Climbing steps, silver dollars, and finger gloves,
savory chicken and dumplings,
boat on the lake, seashells on velvet (these loves)
tricks and treats, some were just ducklings.
Soft hands, warmer heart; silver in corner chair;
the teaser (he died way too young)
To each I lift my thoughts - they are laid bare.
Kindly, ancestors, I’m among.
All, go the byway, to our destination.
What will our progeny recall?
What bouquet of ours sets forth sensation?
Together we’ll be, blessings fall.
Lacrimal vessels are filled - our love, fearsome.
Eyes salty and brightened.
Peace comes after tears, reveling in wisdom.
Capacity to care, heightened.
In the years, I’ve walked this earth,
Half spent in service, a self-testament to worth.
Through war and peace, I stood my ground,
After combat tours, where courage was found.
Family tragedies left scars so deep,
Murders that haunted my nights without sleep.
Conditioned to march through conflict no matter the haze.
Immune to the impact, I find the warmth of a familiar place.
When Tornados swept through, tearing apart my dreams,
I always heal from own quiet streams.
Oh Angela, this month has been the hardest to bear,
Smothering, choking, and gasping for air.
I miss you so deeply; it’s a wound that won’t heal.
Like losing my breath in an ocean so wide,
I struggle to breathe with this pain deep inside.
I fight to contain all these feelings I hold,
Yet thoughts of Shane and your babies unfold.
Never once did twins need words to convey,
The bond that we shared in our own special way.
Now there’s a void in my spirit so vast,
A painful chasm unfilled by memories past.
On a cold, dark night, I stand alone
In the graveyard, where shadows are thrown
Deeply mourning, I weep at the mention
Of your name, dear Kasiita, my heart's lament
In my darkest moments, dressed in black
Cold winds howl against my back
The graves beneath my feet seem to stir
Filling me with a sense of desolation
As chairman, you brought hope to our village
Resolving conflicts, and uniting us with your wisdom
Your leadership inspired a sense of community pride
A lasting impact that will forever be remembered
Years have passed since your departure from our sight
The pain of your loss remains, though it has subsided
Your memory continues to occupy a special place,
And it evokes a warmth that soothes my cold heart
May time continue to bring me peace and calm
May your legacy be a source of strength and inspiration
May your love and wisdom forever guide me
Rest in peace, dear Kasiita.
At the grave side
Always a moment for
deep reflection
About life and its fleeting
nature
We are reminded that life
is but a breath
We are a breath short before
we join the dead.
The grave though silent, yet
speaks volumes
It tells the story of a life once
lived
Love once shared and legacies
left.
Questions coming to the fore
Am l living or existing
Am I leaving a legacy
Am I loving and giving enough
These are thoughts at the grave side
(Written on the 3rd of December, 2024)
Her struggling gait and wrinkled face
Reflected grief for her dead mate.
She’d lost her family at great cost
Before she entered society’s lost.
I passed her every day on streets
And thought she was a deadbeat.
She did not have delusions grand
And only craved a kindly hand.
She limped her way down city streets
With no one’s help and nil to eat.
She had no home and widely roamed
Before she spent her nights alone.
Her shrunken frame and knotted mane
Hid the fact that she was lame.
She struggled for her every breath
And every day she cheated death.
Ghosts like her die alone
And no one hears their final moan.
They fade away like apparitions,
Victims of Man’s blindered vision.
Quote By Poet: "Tears are rain from the eyes."
When the phone rings,
it is 1:30 AM.
A doctor saying,
your dad is gone.
How did I manage to say,
thanks for your call?
Tears filled my eyes and face,
my dad is gone but how could that be?
My hero of a man,
who left his home~family~to fight a war.
A dad who took the time,
to help with homework.
His wisdom was everlasting,
"a winner never quits and a quitter never wins."
My memories drift off,
to a great man and dad.
One who loved his,
family and country.
Where the beach would find him,
fishing the blue sea.
He was called friend,
because he was a friend to all.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN
Of course, in the end, her end was inevitable
Reaching such an age, even in such as this age
A memorable funeral of Pomp and ceremony
A traditional Monarchy, perhaps even the last
Famous across the world and never outclassed
Missed by so many, and left a special memory
The longest reign, until time turned the page
Her legacy to all of us was considered ineffable
It was wartime work as an ambulance driver
From a Princess then to Queen of the realm
She ascended the throne in February fifty two
A coronation following in summer fifty three
A splendid occasion, and was the first on TV
Married to Prince Phillip, their love was true
An inspiration to many, with her at the helm
History will remember her, ask any archiver
She left a small family of Charles and Anne
But a bigger family across the commonwealth
Prince Charles is now King after her long span
Both children now old, yet still in good health
Based upon an entry in the mid-19th Century autobiography of Presbyterian Theodore Clapp, who lived for several decades in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Of the many young brides who I’ve married,
None were more exquisite than her.
Her pleasant charm, and smile so merry,
Both made my old heart stir.
Her fiancé loved her deeply
And she cherished him like no other.
Her father gave her away happily,
In front of her joyful mother.
In the afternoon wedding her vows were said,
While a bouquet in hand she carried.
Their reception next was well-attended,
like many young couples that I have married.
A few hours later, she fell deathly ill.
Then suddenly, she no longer stirred.
Later that night, in her wedding dress still,
And with bouquet in hand, she was interred.
Deep within her family sepulcher
Remain four questions unanswered.
Why then? Why her?
What purpose was served?
And how does one assuage the ones who loved her?
I will try to
hold onto the memories
when you were most happy;
most vital, most alive.
My heart will meet you there,
where the warmth of the sun
hits you always and your
gentle spirit thrives in
playfulness and peace.
—
My family’s cat Ben will be sorely missed. He was fighting an infection and fever and as a result had multiple seizures and unfortunately lost the battle last night. I know my family did all that they could. I’m really sorry that he had to go so early, and my heart goes out to my family right now. He was a little boy, but with a big personality and a sweet disposition. My niece adored him, and he loved to be cuddled and snuggle on our laps. I just wanted to say a couple words. It’s never easy to lose a pet. I am grateful he is no longer suffering, and that he is at peace.
A tribute to Marie,
Marie, you seemed to draw the short straw in life,
Again and again,
Yet somehow you were able find a way to keep giving,
To those who we thought less deserving.
But giving was in your nature,
As it seems to be with most who have little that is physical to give,
But a whole lot more of the spiritual to impart.
We hope if you are looking down on us as we gather here today,
You are at peace now with, the belated knowledge,
That your life mattered,
Your presence was a blessing,
And you did make a difference,
Inspiring others to do better,
We wish your stay with us could have been longer,
But we pray that you have found the peace,
That you had been searching for,
For far too long.
I now call upon others to share stories that,
Show how much your life mattered to them,
Then, now and in all times to come.
(We are interring her ashes after all these years when the immediate family are all together at the same time)
“Dreams Coercing Memory”
You want cherries jubilee
with a little Krug champagne
but soft custard is just the same
when reality plays its game
by the spoonful
morphine comes
to save the day
the light changes
subtle refractions
of dreams coercing
memory
long elegant fingers
poised painted apricots
those false '70s fingernails
tremendous talons
for Tchaikovsky takeoff
gracefully shimmering
glamorously sparkling
eyes smiling, clicking keys
without fear, the notes become
a romantic Chopin mystery
pianola peddles
next to her laughs
and says with glee,
a good exercise
back then, we didn't
have the time, says
the matriarch smiling
just like a mother
come to collect
on the other side
her sister, hand on shoulders
sits next to her
a Nightingale Linnet
the number
at pianola
3
one number
most
profound
one number
devine aligned,
most hard to forget
or push aside
kept close
in Love and loved
for all eternity
this one
as 3
should never hide
(LadyLabyrinth / 2023)
LM/HMM/LJM
17.9.23
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