Some ideas for positive, life affirming funeral poems. Some are quite light-hearted, even humorous.

Ten poems to celebrate a life

Sometimes its quite appropriate to have a laugh at a funeral or memorial. 

Other times, well, sadness means that humour is not appropriate. Perhaps if it was a tragic death, the death of a child or of a young person. 

Its important to make sure that the tone of the funeral is fitting for the person being remembered.  This is what makes a memorable and consoling farewell for those who loved the one who has died.

My Funeral and Memorial celebrant website

An irreverent, humorous poem

This poem was read at a recent memorial which I conducted.  The woman who had passed away had an irreverent, cheeky sense of humour.  It's good to have a few laughs, as well as tears, as we say goodbye to someone we love.

Pardon Me for Not Getting Up
Oh dear, if you're reading this right now,
I must have given up the ghost.
I hope you can forgive me for being
Such a stiff and unwelcoming host. 

Just talk amongst yourself my friends,
And share a toast or two.
For I am sure you will remember well
How I loved to drink with you.

Don't worry about mourning me,
I was never easy to offend.
Feel free to share a story at my expense
And we'll have a good laugh at the end. 

Funeral Readings

I can read for you or you may choose to have a family member or friend to read

Click on the link to find some ideas for readings for a funeral or memorial from Funeral Helper

Funeral Readings



 

A thoughful reading about the loss of parents

Death Is Smaller Than I Thought   by Adrian Mitchell

My Mother and Father died some years ago
I loved them very much.
When they died my love for them
Did not vanish or fade away.
It stayed just about the same,
Only a sadder colour.
And I can feel their love for me,
Same as it ever was.

Clive James poem as he faces his approaching death

Your death, near now, is of an easy sort.
So slow a fading out brings no real pain.
Breath growing short
Is just uncomfortable. You feel the drain
Of energy, but thought and sight remain:
Enhanced, in fact. When did you ever see
So much sweet beauty as when fine rain falls
On that small tree
And saturates your brick back garden walls,
So many Amber Rooms and mirror halls?
Ever more lavish as the dusk descends
This glistening illuminates the air.
It never ends.
Whenever the rain comes it will be there,
Beyond my time, but now I take my share.
My daughter’s choice, the maple tree is new.
Come autumn and its leaves will turn to flame.
What I must do
Is live to see that. That will end the game
For me, though life continues all the same:
Filling the double doors to bathe my eyes,
A final flood of colours will live on
As my mind dies,
Burned by my vision of a world that shone
So brightly at the last, and then was gone.      Clive James

Words of Comfort

To Those I Love                                By Isla Paschal Richardson

If I should ever leave you,

Whom I love

To go along the silent way. . .

Grieve not.

Nor speak of me with tears.

But laugh and talk of me

As if I were beside you there.

And when you hear a song                                               

Or see a bird I loved,

Please do not let the thought of me

Be sad. . .for I am loving you

Just as I always have. . .

You were so good to me!

There are so many things

I wanted still to do. . .

So many things I wanted to say

to you. . . Remember that

I did not fear. . . It was

Just leaving you

That was so hard to face.

We cannot see beyond. . .

But this I know:

I loved you so. . .

’twas heaven here with you

Go to my website for more information about funerals and memorials

No Sooner by Michael Leunig, a mediation on dying and another one of grief

No Sooner          Michael Leunig

No sooner do you arrive than it’s time to leave.

How beautiful it is, how glorious, yet it’s nearly time to go. So you take it in, you take it in.

And you take a few small souvenirs, some leaves: lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus.
A few small pebbles, a few small secrets, a look you received, nine little notes of music,
and then it’s time to go.

You move towards the open door and the silent night beyond.
The few bright stars, a deep breath, and it really is time to go.

No sooner does it all begin to make sense, does it start to come true,
does it all open up, do you begin to see, does it enter into your heart…no sooner do you arrive than it’s time to leave. Yes, it’s the truth.

And then you will have passed through it, and with mysterious consequence it will have passed through you.

“When the heart
Is cut or cracked or broken
Do not clutch it
Let the wound lie open
Let the wind
From the good old sea blow in
To bathe the wound with salt
And let it sting
Let a stray dog lick it
Let a bird lean in the hole and sing
A simple song like a tiny bell
And let it ring
Let it go. Let it out.
Let it all unravel.
Let it free and it can be
A path on which to travel.”
— Michael Leunig, When I Talk to You: A Cartoonist Talks to God