Poetry For Funeral

Suppose the combination of mourning and public speaking is nearly too much to contemplate, but you would like to memorialize a loved one by giving a brief reading. In that case, the following short poems are ideal for the funeral.

These poems are popular reads at both traditional funeral services as well as at more informal memorial services and gatherings for the Celebration of Life. Any of these poems would make for a nice accompaniment to a funeral service, a memorial service, or a celebration of life ceremony. If you find solace and inspiration in these funeral poems, you might take solace from crafting your own verses on loss, or reading the unforgettable, sometimes poetic final words from some of the world’s most celebrated artists, politicians, and entrepreneurs.

Inspirational funeral poems remind us to live our lives in ways that honor our loved ones lasting love and legacy. These spiritual funeral poems offer more than just comforting, hopeful words, but also a reminder that death will never take our memories or loved ones who are still alive. This funeral poem recognizes the need to say goodbye to your loved one, to let go, to learn how to live without them — but also offers comfort in knowing that the love lives on in your heart.

Written by Henry Scott Holland, this funeral verse is about the way that loves lives on after a loved one dies. One of the more popular poems read during a funeral, the poem is from the early 20th century, and features the speaker imploring those loved ones left behind to not grieve over her. One of the most popular poems to be read at a funeral, Dylan Thomas’s words are a poignant reminder to those who have lived their lives fully.

Like the songs that are played during a funeral, a poem or well-chosen funeral reading can bring comfort or bring a smile, and will serve as a beautiful memory of your loved one well into the future. We have put together a selection of poems that address themes of loss and grief that will make for appropriate funeral readings, or just offer some solace for someone who has lost someone close. Here are a few other ideas that you might find in your local library, or this great book that is filled with readings and poems, and all the information you need to know to plan a funeral or memorial service.

You might also want to consider setting up a free memorial site, where you and others can share photos, stories, funeral details, an obituary, and more, as well as poems. If you are feeling nervous about reading a lengthy poem, or you would like to keep your service short, you might prefer choosing a shorter funeral poem that is still a poignant tribute to your loved one and the life he or she left behind. For those loved ones in your life who are gone, but will never be forgotten, read on for 100 meaningful, heartwarming poems to celebrate life.

Short funeral poems were written by Joyce Grenfell, with messages on finding ways to deal with the grief that continues after losing loved ones. Whether you are reading favorite literature classics of a lost loved one or finding solace in the words of a beloved children’s novel, a lay funeral reading has the power to lift, inspire, and bond the people attending your services.