A poem to read at a funeral?

Question

Can anyone recommend a decent poem to read at their mother's funeral?
Nothing schmaltzy or anything by Auden - just something to celebrate her life?

Answer 1

The poem


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'll come back
or you can open your eyes and see all she's left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her
or you can be full of the love 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's 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'd want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

this was read at the queen mums funeral...
heres the link..

hope its not too traumatic..

Answer 2

Practice deep, calm breathing. Find yourself some time to say a small, personal goodbye before the funeral so it's not all bottling up until the funeral. Maybe a spot you both loved, or over a story you shared or just talk to someone else about what she meant to you. You have the strength to do this and can hold it together for the reading. Tell yourself so. Think about how you want it to sound and not on what *might* happen. Personally, I'd imagine she was next to me, holding my hand, reading it with me, helping me. But that's just me. How I work on these things. Oh and don't get someone else to do the reading. It sounds like it is more important that you do the reading whatever happens and I would suggest it'd be even worse to look back and think "I wish I'd done that reading". Even if you do "blub", as you put it, nobody will mind, nobody will think less of you, they'll all understand as would you aunt.

Answer 3

The Rose Beyond the Wall

A rose once grew where all could see
Sheltered beside a garden wall
And, as the days past swiftly by
It spread its branches, straight and tall
One day, a beam of light shone through
A crevice that had opened wide
The rose bent gently toward its warmth
Then passed beyond to the other side
Now, you who deeply feel its loss
Be comforted, the rose blooms there
It’s beauty even greater now
Nurtured by God’s own loving care.

Author unknown

Answer 4

Death is nothing at all,
I have only slipped into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by my old familiar name,
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used
Put no difference in your tone,
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household world that it always was,
Let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It it the same as it ever was, there is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near,
Just around the corner.
All is well.

By Henry Scott Holland



Our thoughts and prayers are with you

Answer 5

First, let me say how sorry I am for your loss.

My Grandmother, who was like a mother to me, meant everything. When she passed, I wrote a poem from my heart. It just came to me. You may have something inside of you as well, that will come straight from your heart and really tell of the life that she lead, and what it meant to you personally.

Hope this helps. Take Good Care!!!

Answer 6

Remember by Christina Rossetti

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.

Answer 7

Do not stand by my grave and weep
by Mary E. Frye

Do not stand at my grave and weep:
I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the softly falling snow,
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the field of ripening grain.

I am in the morning hush,
I am in the grateful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight.
I am the starshine of the night.

I am in the flowers that bloom.
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing.
I am in each lovely thing.

So do not stand by my grave and cry.
I am not there.
I did not die.

xxxxx

This has always been one of my favourite poems...

Sarah x

Answer 8

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints on snow
I am the sunlight on the ripened grain
I am the gentle Autumn rain
When you awake in the morning hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in a circled flight
I am the stars that shine at night
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there,
I did not die

Answer 9

sorry man


here.

My mom

I thank you give me life,
I thank you give me love,
I thanky you being there always for me.

if I neve say I love you , now I say it to u,

I know you are seeing me from the heaven ,

You know am doing well , because you was the best mom.

I will never say good bye, U always in my heart , what ever I go you will be there.

Answer 10

LOVE IS ALWAYS PATIENT AND KIND; IT IS NEVER JEALOUS.
LOVE IS NEVER BOASTFUL OR CONCEITED; IT IS NEVER RUDE OR SELFISH.
IT DOES NOT TAKE OFFENCE AND IS NOT RESENTFUL.
LOVE TAKES NO PLEASURE IN OTHER PEOPLES SINS BUT DELIGHTS IN THE TRUTH.
IT IS ALWAYS READY TO EXCUSE, TO TRUST, TO HOPE AND TO ENDURE WHATEVER COMES.
IN SHORT, THESE ARE THE THREE THINGS THAT LAST;
FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE AND THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE…

St. PAUL.


IF YOU HAVE LOVE,YOU HAVE EVERYTHING.
.........edit as needed...but it hit the spot when i had to do something similar....and sorry for your loss...xxxx