Poems
Poems are becoming increasingly popular at Celebration of Life services. Here are some of the poems that have featured in services I have taken to date.
‘Remember Me’ by David Harkins (also known as ‘She is Gone’)
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 will come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her
Or you can be full of the love that 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 is 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 would want; smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
‘If Roses Grow In Heaven’ (Anon)
If roses grow in heaven,
Lord please pick a bunch for me,
Place them in my Mother’s arms
and tell her they’re from me.
Tell her I love her and miss her,
and when she turns to smile,
place a kiss upon her cheek
and hold her for awhile.
Because remembering her is easy,
I do it every day,
but there’s an ache within my heart
that will never go away.
‘Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep’ by Elizabeth 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 diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.
‘If I Should Go Tomorrow’ (Anon)
If I should go tomorrow
It would never be goodbye
For I have left my heart with you
So don’t you ever cry
The love that’s deep within me
Shall reach you from the stars
You’ll feel it from the heavens
And it will heal the scars
‘Letter From Heaven’ (Anon)
When Tomorrow starts without me,
And I’m not here to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes,
Filled with tears for me.
I wish so much you wouldn’t cry,
The way you did today,
While thinking of the many things,
We didn’t get to say.
I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time you think of me,
I know you’ll miss me too.
When tomorrow starts without me,
Don’t think we’re far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I’m right there in your heart.
‘God’s Garden’ (Anon)
God looked around his garden,
And He found an empty place,
And then he looked down upon the earth,
And saw your tired face.
He put his arms around you,
And lifted you to rest,
God’s garden must be beautiful,
He always takes the best.
He knew that you were suffering,
He knew you were in pain,
He knew that you would never,
Get well on earth again.
God saw the road was getting rough,
And the hills were hard to climb,
So he closed your weary eyelids,
And whispered, “Peace be Thine.”
It broke our hearts to lose you,
But you didn’t go alone,
For part of us went with you,
The day god called you home.
‘Remember’ by Christina Georgina 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 planned.
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.
‘Think Of Me’ by Steve Richards
Though your heads are bowed in sorrow,
As you grieve for me;
Please don’t change the life you live,
Just to mourn for me;
All I ask of you,
Is that you think of me;
As you walk along the shore,
Skim a stone for me;
Outside a café, on a bright summer’s day,
Drink a toast to me;
When the light begins to fade,
Light a candle for me;
And in the night, when sleep betrays you,
Say a prayer for me.
‘One More Day’ by Steve Richards
Today I found…a wishing well,
And wished for one more day with you,
But without a plan, nor great idea,
Of what on earth we’d do.
But then I hadn’t planned on losing you,
So soon…my love…my heart,
The only plan we ever made,
Was to never be apart.
But what if we had just one more day?
How could our day be spent?
A picnic in the park maybe?
I know how much that meant.
Perhaps a day beside the sea?
Watch waves crash to the shore,
With Fish and chips in paper,
Ice cream, and a whole lot more.
We could walk the rings of Badbury,
Or the climb to Hengistbury Head,
But if walking’s off the agenda,
Let’s find a pub instead.
Or we could just have a vinyl day?
Play all our favourite tracks,
But a day is only 24 hours,
We’d need much more than that!
So many things we loved to do,
To pick for ‘One More Day,’ yet
I’d gamble it all, just to see your smile,
A price I’d gladly pay.
So “Au revoir” my love…my heart,
Until we meet again,
I’ll see you on the other side,
My soul mate; my best friend.
‘The Dash’ by Linda Ellis Copyright 1996