You can shed tears (Gent)
You can shed tears that he is gone
or you can smile because he has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that he’ll come back
or you can open your eyes and see all he’s left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see him
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 him and only that he's gone
or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back,
or you can do what he’d want: smile: open your eyes, love and go on.
David Harkins
You can shed tears (Lady)
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.
David Harkins
I'm free
Don’t grieve for me now that I’m free,
I’m following paths made for me.
I took a hand, I heard the call,
Then turned and bid farewell to all
I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to sing, to play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way,
I found my peace at close of day.
If my parting left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy,
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
Yes, these things I too will miss.
Be not burdened deep with sorrow,
I wish you sunshine of tomorrow.
My life’s been full, I’ve savoured much.
Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me,
I’m wanted now
Just set me free.
Anon
At rest
Think of me as one at rest,
For me you should not weep
I have no pain no troubled thoughts
For I am just asleep
The living, thinking me that was,
Is now forever still
And life goes on without me now,
As time forever will.
If your heart is heavy now
Because I've gone away
Dwell not long upon it friend
For none of us can stay
Those of you who liked me,
I sincerely thank you all
And those of you who loved me,
I thank you most of all.
And in my fleeting lifespan,
As time went rushing by
I found some time to hesitate,
To laugh, to love, to cry
Matters it now if time began
If time will ever cease?
I was here, I used it all,
And now I am at peace.
Anon
Feel no guilt in laughter (Gent)
Feel no guilt in laughter, he'd know how much you care.
Feel no sorrow in a smile that he is not here to share.
You cannot grieve forever; he would not want you to.
He'd hope that you could carry on the way you always do.
So, talk about the good times and the way you showed you cared,
The days you spent together, all the happiness you shared.
Let memories surround you. A word someone may say
Will suddenly recapture a time, an hour, a day,
That brings him back as clearly as though he were still here,
And fills you with the feeling that he is always near.
For if you keep those moments, you will never be apart
And he will live forever locked safely within your heart.
Anon
Feel no guilt in laughter (Lady)
Feel no guilt in laughter, she'd know how much you care.
Feel no sorrow in a smile that she is not here to share.
You cannot grieve forever; she would not want you to.
She'd hope that you could carry on the way you always do.
So, talk about the good times and the way you showed you cared,
The days you spent together, all the happiness you shared.
Let memories surround you. A word someone may say
Will suddenly recapture a time, an hour, a day,
That brings her back as clearly as though she were still here,
And fills you with the feeling that she is always near.
For if you keep those moments, you will never be apart
And she will live forever locked safely within your heart.
Anon
Still there
A whisper in the wind,
A shadow on the wall,
The feeling that someone is there
But no answer to your call.
A kind of warmth when days are cold,
A hand held out to guide,
A glow that lights the darkest night,
A presence by your side.
If these things happen, curb your fears
Just smile a knowing smile
It’s me, you see, watching over you
Across the coming years.
Anon
Death is nothing at all
Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away to 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 have 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.
Let my name be ever the household word
that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect.
Without a trace of a shadow in it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is 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.
Henry Scott Holland (1847 – 1918)
If I should go
If I should go before the rest of you,
Break not a flower, nor inscribe a stone,
Nor, when I’m gone, speak in a Sunday voice,
But be the usual selves that I have known.
Weep if you must, parting is hell,
But life goes on, so sing as well.
Joyce Grenfell (1910 – 1979)
Do not stand/Autumn rain
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 sun on ripened grain
I am in gentle autumn rain,
When you awaken in the morning hush
I am swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight
I am the star-shine at night
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I do not die
Mary Elizabeth Frye (1905 – 2004)
Thy will be done
You left quietly without a fuss
You always had a smile to share
A laugh, a joke
A time to care
A wonderful nature
Warm and true
These are the memories
I have of you
A beautiful life
Came to an end
You died as you lived
Everyone’s friend
You gave me year’s of happiness
Then sorrow came with tears
You left me lovely memories
I will treasure through the years
Dorothy Frances Gurney (1858 – 1932)
Remember me
To the living, I am gone.
To the sorrowful, I will never return.
To the angry, I was cheated,
But to the happy, I am at peace,
And to the faithful, I have never left.
I cannot be seen, but I can be heard.
So as you stand upon a shore, gazing at a beautiful sea – remember me.
As you look in awe at a mighty forest and its grand majesty – remember me.
As you look upon a flower and admire its simplicity – remember me.
Remember me in your heart, your thoughts, your memories of the times we loved, the times we cried, the times we fought, the times we laughed.
For if you always think of me, I will have never gone.
Anon
Four candles
The first candle represents our grief.
The pain of losing you is intense
It reminds us of the depth of our love for you
The second candle represents our courage.
To confront our sorrow,
To comfort each other,
To change our lives.
The third candle we light in your memory.
For the times we laughed,
The times we cried,
The times we were angry with each other,
The silly things you did,
The caring and joy you gave us.
The fourth candle we light for our love.
We light this candle that your light will always shine,
As we enter this sad time and share this day of
remembrance with family and friends.
We cherish the special place in our hearts
That will always be reserved for you.
We thank you for the gift
Your living brought to each of us.
Anon
That woman is a success
That woman is a success
Who has lived well,
Laughed often and loved much;
Who has gained the respect of intelligent
men and the love of children;
Who has filled her niche and
accomplished her task;
Who leaves the world better than she found it,
Whether by an improved poppy,
A perfect poem, or a rescued soul;
Who has never lacked appreciation of
Earth’s beauty or failed to express it;
Who looked for the best in others.
And gave the best she had.
Bessie Anderson Stanley (written 1904)
When I am gone
When I come to the end of my journey
And I travel my last weary mile.
Just forget if you can, that I ever frowned
And remember only the smile
Forget unkind words I have spoken;
Remember some good I have done.
Forget that I ever had heartache
And remember I’ve had loads of fun.
Forget that I’ve stumbled and blundered
And sometimes fell by the way.
Remember I have fought some hard battles
And won, ere the close of the day.
Then forget to grieve for my going,
I would not have you sad for a day,
But in summer just gather some flowers
And remember the place where I lay.
And come in the shade of evening
When the sun paints the sky in the west
Stand for a few moments beside me
And remember only my best
Mrs. Lyman Hancock
If I had a voice
If I had a voice today, I’d say
Dear ones, please don’t cry,
Still love me but don’t grieve for me,
It’s easy if you try
Don’t think of all that I won’t see
Just think of what I’ve seen
Think not of places I won’t go
But remember where I’ve been
I’ve lived, I’ve loved, I’ve laughed, I’ve cried
I’ve worked hard, that’s for sure
I’ve done my best, I’m satisfied
I couldn’t ask for more
I know not what becomes of me
Nor what’s beyond today
If I had a choice I’d use my voice
But alas I’ve gone away
You have memories of me to enjoy
Smile, laugh, be tough,
You have loved me and enriched my life
I was happy, that’s enough!
Anon
Words
An individual human existence should be like a river –
small at first, narrowly contained within it’s banks,
and rushing passionately past boulders and over waterfalls.
Gradually, the river grows wider, the banks recede,
the waters flow more quietly, and – in the end –
without any visible break, they become merged in
the sea, and painlessly lose their individual being.
The man or woman, who, in old age,
can see his or her life in this way,
will not suffer from the fear of death,
since the things they care for will continue.
Bertrand Russell (1872 – 1970)
The death of each of us
The death of each of us is in the order of things; it follows life as surely as night follows day. We can take the tree of life as a symbol. The human race is the trunk and branches of this tree, and individual men and women are the leaves, which appear one season, flourish for a summer, and then die. I too am like a leaf of this tree, and one day I shall be torn off by a storm, or simply decay and fall and mingle with the earth at it’s roots. But, while I live, I am conscious of the tree’s flowing sap and steadfast strength. When I die and fall the tree of life remains, nourished to some small degree by my life. Millions of leaves have preceded me and millions will follow me; but the tree itself grows and endures.
Sir Herbert Read (adapted) (1893 – 1968)
A time for everything
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV)
Leisure
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
William Henry Davies (1871 – 1940)
Only we who grieve
Tis only we who grieve
They do not leave
They are not gone
They look upon us still
They walk among the valleys now
They stride upon the hill
Their smile is in the summer sky
Their grace is in the breeze
Their memories whisper in the grass
Their calm is in the trees
Their light is in the winter snow
Their tears are in the rain
Their merriment runs in the borok
Their laughter in the lane
Their gentleness is in the flowers
They sigh in autumn leaves
They do not leave
They are not gone
Tis only we who grieve
Anon
If I should go tomorrow
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.
Anon
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 is all part of natures’s plan,
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.
Glyn Shipton
A silent tear
Just close your eyes and you will see
All the memories that you have of me
Just sit and relax and you will find
I’m really still there inside your mind
Don’t cry for me now I’m gone
For I am in the land of song
There is no pain, there is no fear
So dry away that silent tear
Don’t think of me in the dark and cold
For here I am, no longer old
I’m in that place that’s filled with love
Known to you all, as “up above”
Anon
Don't make me a hero when I'm gone
I went to a funeral today.
Someone who obviously knew the family well
Stood to ‘say a few words’.
Well, the lady in the coffin was hardly recognisable!
She’d been so unbelievably good at everything
It’s a wonder anyone liked her at all.
So don’t make me a hero when I’m gone.
There’ll be good things about me to miss
And some not so good, which you’ll be better off without
So keep things in balance.
Whatever you do, have a laugh.
I’ve loved tears of laughter rolling down my cheeks
Tummy aching with hilarity
Always made me feel better about things.
So have a good laugh
It’ll do you good –
And don’t make me a hero when I’m gone.
Anon
Remember
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.
Christina Rossetti (1830 – 1894)
Our mum/nan
A special Mum/Nan is hard to find
For that we know is true,
You gave to us unselfishly
Every single part of you.
Your winning smile, those sparkling eyes,
The way you made us laugh,
We know you were so peaceful
As you travelled Heaven’s path
Your memory is your inner strength,
Which lasts a whole life through,
God threw away the mould Mum/Nan
The day that he made you.
Whenever we are lonely
And need your loving hand
We know that you will guide us
In life, to understand.
That each day you’ll walk beside us,
We will never be alone,
The only thing that’s changed now Mum/Nan
Is that you are not at home.
Anon
Dad
A dad is a person who is loving and kind,
And often he knows what you have on your mind.
He’s someone who listens, suggests and defends,
A dad can be one of your very best friends!
He’s proud of your triumphs, but when things go wrong,
A dad can be patient and helpful and strong.
In all that you do a dad’s love plays a part,
There’s always a place for him in your heart.
And each year that passes, you’re even more glad,
More grateful and proud just to call him your dad!
Thank you, dad… for listening and caring.
For giving and sharing, but, especially
For just being you!
M.K. Paul
Legacy of love
A wife, a mother, a grandma too,
This legacy we have from you.
You taught us love and how to fight,
You gave us strength, you gave us might.
A stronger person would be hard to find,
And in your heart, you were always kind.
You fought for us all in one way or another,
Not just as a wife, not just as a mother.
For all of us you gave your best,
Now the time has come for you to rest.
So go in peace, you’ve earned your sleep,
Your love in our hearts, we’ll eternally keep
Anon
We've shared our lives
We’ve shared our lives these many years,
You’ve held my hand; you’ve held my heart.
So many blessings, so few tears,
Yet for a moment we must part.
The memories you’ve given me
Are times I’ve shared with my best friend.
I’ll hold them, love, right here they’ll be
Until we share our lives again.
T.C. Ring
I heard your voice in the wind today
I heard your voice in the wind today
and I turned to see your face;
The warmth of the wind caressed me
as I stood silently in place.
I felt your touch in the sun today
as its warmth filled the sky;
I closed my eyes for your embrace
and my spirit soared high.
I saw your eyes in the window pane
as I watched the falling rain;
It seemed as each raindrop fell
it quietly said your name.
I held you close in my heart today
it made me feel complete;
You may have died...but you are not gone
you will always be a part of me.
As long as the sun shines...
the wind blows...
the rain falls...
You will live on inside of me forever
for that is all my heart knows.
Anon
Little things
I’ll miss you tomorrow
When the toothpaste cap is on
I’ll miss you tomorrow
When I must unlock the front door
I’ll miss you tomorrow
When mine is the only reflection in the mirror
But I will celebrate today
The memories of you
Claudet Monroe
Too Soon (Children)
This was a life that had hardly begun
No time to find your place in the Sun
No time to do all you could have done
But we loved you enough for a lifetime
No time to enjoy the world and it's wealth
No time to take life down off the shelf
No time to sing the songs of yourself
Though you had enough love for a lifetime
Those who live long endure sadness and tears
But you'll never suffer the sorrowing years
No betrayal, no anger, no hatred, no fears
Just love - Only love - In your lifetime.
Mary Yarnall
Light (Children)
My little man, down what centuries
of light did you travel
to reach us here,
your stay so short-lived;
In the twinkling of an eye
you were moving on,
bearing our name and a splinter
of the human cross we suffer;
flashed upon us like a beacon,
we wait in darkness for that light
to come round, knowing at heart
you shine forever for us.
Hugh O’Donnell
Fairy Castle (Children)
In a fairy castle, just beyond my eyes,
My baby plays with angel toys that money cannot buy.
Who am I, to wish her back into this world of strife?
No, play on my Baby you have eternal life.
At night, when all is silent and sleep forsakes my eyes
I hear her tiny footsteps come running to my side.
Her tiny hand caress me, so tenderly and sweet
I breathe a sigh and say a prayer embrace her in my sleep.
Now I have a treasure that I hold above all other
I have known true glory for I am still her mother.
Anon
My little angel (Children)
You’ve just walked on ahead of me
And I’ve got to understand
You must release the ones you love
And let go of their hand.
I try and cope the best I can
But I’m missing you so much
If I could only see you
And once more feel your touch.
Yes, you’ve just walked on ahead of me
Don’t worry I’ll be fine
But now and then I swear I feel
Your hand slip into mine.
Anon
My beloved babe (Children)
My endlessly sleeping baby, I would that you should know
That if it were for want of love that you should kick and grow
To cuddle with a teddy bear, to squirm and crawl and walk,
To look deep into my eyes, to gurgle, laugh and talk –
Then dream of playing with your toys, of rocking in your pram
For you are my beloved, death’s sting is just a sham
For you are my beloved, though childhood years I’ll miss
My love for you will still be strong; death cannot alter this.
So dream in peace beloved babe, when time has staunched the tears
My love for you will still be there, abiding all my years
So dream in peace beloved babe, death has no power to sever
Us from the love, which binds us together, sealed in my heart forever.
Anon
We are glad (Children)
We are glad that (name) lived
We are glad that we saw her face
and felt the touch of her hand.
We cherish the memory of her first smile,
her first tooth, her happy disposition.
We cherish the memory of the joy and beauty
she brought to us.
We grieve that she never reached her potential
We take joy in that she brought so much love
and meaning into our lives.
We will remember her for the rest of our lives
We sadly bid her farewell.
Anon
Part of time
Throw my ashes to the wind
And let them blow at will.
Twirling and whirling with each gust,
They never will be still.
Some fall upon a blade of grass
And some fall out to sea.
All the shackles of life will come and go,
I’m free, I’m free, I’m free.
See me on a spider’s web
Blowing in the breeze,
See me on the church pews
When you are on your knees.
I’m here, I’m there, I’m all around.
Oh no, I’m not that shy,
It was a lovely, lovely life,
Now I’m halfway to the sky.
One speck may fall upon a rose.
Then mixed with dewdrops fine,
It’s picked by you - and I shall say,
It’s me - I’m part of time.
Anon
Don't leave a wooden cross
Don't leave a wooden cross
Nor a carved marble stone
Under these branches
I will not be alone,
The ivy covered ground
Will be my blanket
The tree roots will be found
To be my pillow and my cover.
So not a stone and not a cross
Just a simple red poppy flower
To be covered with simple moss
To last for now and forever.
Roger Gale
