Poems for a funeral needed

jackieb

Knelley wrote:

The nicest thing I have ever heard done was a minister who gave every one of the funeral party a wee wrapped sweet. They were told not to eat it until they were told.

During the funeral service he told everyone to take the sweet out and eat it. He went on to explain that the wrapper they held in their hand was the body of the person they loved - it was nothing but an empty shell. The sweet that they were eating was the persons spirit - every one of them had a bit of that person within them. Things they had done, things they had said. It was this that would let the person live on.

To think of that brings a smile to my face and it is so very true. When a loved one dies it is what they meant to everyone around them that carries them on in this world

That is a lovely idea.

buxtonrabbitgreen

sorry for your loss. My uncle died in November and this is the poem for him.
Miss Me But Let Me Go
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 too long
And not with your head bowed low
Remember the love that we once shared
Miss me but let me go

For this is a journey that we all must take
And each must go alone:
It's all a part of the masterplan
A step on the road to home

When you are lonely and sick of heart
Go to the friends we know
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds,
Miss me - but let me go

Guinea_2

Haven't read the whole thread as it's late but...firstly sorry for your loss and secondly....IF by Rudyard Kipling is a beautiful poem which I read at my Grampy's funeral.

inkie

Quote:
Originally Posted by Knelley
The nicest thing I have ever heard done was a minister who gave every one of the funeral party a wee wrapped sweet. They were told not to eat it until they were told.

During the funeral service he told everyone to take the sweet out and eat it. He went on to explain that the wrapper they held in their hand was the body of the person they loved - it was nothing but an empty shell. The sweet that they were eating was the persons spirit - every one of them had a bit of that person within them. Things they had done, things they had said. It was this that would let the person live on.

To think of that brings a smile to my face and it is so very true. When a loved one dies it is what they meant to everyone around them that carries them on in this world


That is a lovely idea.

Thats something that I do at funerals sometimes - it works well. Also have a word with the minister who is doing the service as she will have a selection of reading etc which you could chose from

maypole

It would be nice to know which of these lovely poems you chose, should you use one.

Hope all goes ok on the day.

Best wishes

*Louise*

fribblet wrote:

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 glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.

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

Mary Frye (1932)

I love this poem, we had it read at our daughter's funeral, although we changed the last lines to:

'Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there, look to the sky'

and as it was spoken by the grave, a helium balloon was released to symbolise her spirit being released to the sky.

*Louise*

Letting go
I will let go from present and past, memory and fear.
I will let go of the hurt of the past,
And look to the hope of the future.
I will let go, knowing that I always carry part of my past,
Part of you with me,
Woven into the story of my life...
May I find the way to softly fold inside,
The grief and sadness,
To pack away the pain and in time to move on,
Taking each step forward in the strength of love.

Morglin

You could try these links:


http://www.explorelove.co.uk/funeral_poems.htm

http://www.personalfuneralceremonies.com/Poems-For-a-Funeral-Ceremony

http://www.funeralwords.co.uk/

Lin

Richie23_2

Thank you ALL for your kind words,support and poems.
I will print them all out and show my mum to let her decide.

Special thanks to Knelly aswell for the pm's..

Please keep the ideas an poems coming as they are a good comfort reading them. I'll mention the Sweet idea aswell, which i thought would add something special to the service.

Thanks all!

FleetFanatic

I used the lyrics from this Celine Dion song for one funeral:

Fly fly little wing
Fly beyond imagining
The softest cloud the whitest dove
Upon the wind of heaven's love
Past the planets and the stars
Leave this lonely world of ours
Escape the sorrow and the pain
And fly again

Fly fly precious one
Your endless journey has begun
Take your gentle happiness
Far too beautiful for this
Cross over to the other shore
There is peace forevermore
But hold this memory bittersweet
Until we meet

Fly, fly do not fear
Don't waste a breath, don't shed a tear
Your heart is pure, your soul is free
Be on your way, don't wait for me
Above the universe you'll climb
On beyond the hands of time
The moon will rise, the sun will set
But I won't forget

Fly, fly little wing
Fly where only angels sing
Fly away, the time is right
Go now, find the light