General Mourning Verses

When I Must Leave You
When I must leave you
for a little while
Please do not grieve
and shed wild tears
And hug your sorrow
to you through the years
But start out bravely
with a gallant smile:
And for my sake
and in my name
live on and do
all things the same,
Feed not your loneliness
on empty days,
But fill each waking hour
in useful ways,
Reach out your hand
in comfort and in cheer
And I in turn
will comfort you
and hold you near;
And never, never
be afraid to die,
For I am waiting for you
in the sky!

A Bright New World
We feel so sad when those we love
are touched by death's dark hand,
but it would ease our sorrow
if we could but understand
that death is just a gateway
that all men must pass through
and on the other side of death,
in a world that's bright and new,
our loved ones wait to welcome us
to that land free from all tears
where joy becomes eternal
and time is not counted by years.
Helen Steiner Rice

Afterglow
I'd like the memory of me
to be a happy one.
I'd like to leave
an Afterglow of Smiles
when day is done.
I'd like to leave an echo...
Whispering softly
down the ways of happy times
and laughing times and
bright and sunny days.
I'd like the tears of those who grieve
to dry before the sun
of happy memories
that I leave behind
when day is done.

I'm Not Here
Do not stand at my grave and weep
for I am not there, I do not sleep,
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamonds glint on snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn's rain.
When you awaken
in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circle 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.

I'm Free
Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free;
I'm following the path God laid for me.
I took His hand when I heard him call;
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day,
to laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way;
I found that place at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void,
then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss;
Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow;
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored 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;
God wanted me now, He set me free.

May I Go
May I Go Now?
Don't you think the time is right?
May I say good-by to pain-filled days
and endless lonely nights?
I've lived my life and done my best,
an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond
and set my spirit free?
I didn't want to go at first,
I fought with all my might!
But something seems to draw me now
to a warm and loving light.
I want to go! I really do!
It's difficult to stay but I will try
as best I can to live just one more day
--- To give you time to care for me
and share your love and fears.
I know you're sad and are afraid
because I see your tears.
I'll not be far, I promise that,
and hope you'll always know
that my spirit will be close to you
wherever you may go.
Thank you so for loving me.
You know I loved you too.
That's why it's hard to say good-bye
and end this life with you.
So hold me now, just one more time
and let me hear you say,
because you care so much for me,
you'll let me go today.

A Little Step Away
To close the eye, to fall asleep,
to draw a labored breath,
to find release from daily cares
in what we know as death . . .
Is this the crowning of life,
the aim or end thereof?
The totaled sum of consciousness,
he ripened fruit of love?
It cannot be, for works of God
are wrought for nobler ends,
and those away continue on
in the hearts of kin and friends.
It cannot be, for they live on
a little step away, the soul,
the everlasting life,
has found a better day . . .
O.J. Hanson-

Crossing The Bar
Sunset and evening star.
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning
of the bar when I put out to sea.
But such a tide as moving
seems asleep too full
for sound and foam.
When that which drew
from out the boundless deep
turns again home.
Twilight and evening bell,
and after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness
of farewell when I embark;
For though from out our borne of time
and place the flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
when I have crossed the bar.
Alfred Lord Tennyson

When I'm 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.

You Are Not Forgotten
You are not forgotten,
loved one nor will you ever be,
as long as life and memory
last we will remember thee.
We miss you now,
our hearts are sore.
As time goes;
by we'll miss you more.
Your loving smile,
your gentle face
no one can fill
your vacant place.

Not, How Did He Die, But How Did He Live?
Not how did he die, but how did he live?
Not what did he gain, but what did he give?
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man as a man, regardless of birth.
Not, what was his church, nor what was his creed?
But had he befriended those really in need?
Was he ever ready, with word of good cheer,
To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
Not what did the sketch in the newspaper say,
But how many were sorry when he passed away.

Poem For Thy Living
When I am dead, cry for me a little,
think of me sometimes,
but not too much.
It is not good for you,
or your wife, or your husband,
or your children to allow
your thoughts to dwell
too long on the dead.
Think of me now and again
as I was in life at some moment
which it is pleasant to recall.
But not too long.
Leave me in peace
as I shall leave you, too, in peace.
While you live,
let your thoughts be with the living.

The Eternal Goodness
I know not what the future hath
of marvel or surprise;
assured alone that life and death
His mercy underlies.
And if my heart and flesh are weak
to bear an untried pain,
the bruised reed He will not break;
but strengthen and sustain.
And so, beside the silent sea,
I wait the muffled oar;
no harm from Him can come to me
on ocean or on shore.
I know not where His islands lift
their fronded palms in air;
I only know I cannot drift
beyond His love and care . John Greenleaf Whittier

TO THOSE I LOVE
AND THOSE WHO LOVE ME"
When I am gone, release me, let me go,
I have so many things to see and do.
You mustn't tie yourself to me with tears,
be happy that we had so many years.
I gave you my love, you can only guess
how much you gave me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you each have shown
but now it's time I traveled on alone.
So grieve a while for if grieve you must
then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It's only for a while that we must part
so bless the memories within your heart
I won't be far away, for life goes on,
so if you need me, call, and I will come.
Though you can't see or touch me
I'll be near and if you listen with your heart,
you'll hear all of my love around you
soft and clear.
And then, when you
must come this way alone,
I'll greet you with a smile and say,
"WELCOME HOME"

Pass Through
I shall pass through
this world but once.
Any good, therefore,
that I can do
or any kindness that I can show
to any human being,
let me do it now.
Let me not defer it
or neglect it,
for I shall not
pass this way again.

Feelings
We feel sad,
for what we have lost.
We feel poor,
for the empty spaces.
We feel rich,
for we have each other.
We will cry,
for what we can't have.
We will laugh,
for our memories abound.
We will hurt,
for the love we can't give.
We will rejoice,
for the love we have received.
We will be restless,
for our lives are not whole.
We will be peaceful,
for we know it is not forever.
Nanette Hamilton

Death is Nothing
Death is nothing at all
I have only slipped away into the next room
I am I and you are you.
Whatever we were to each other
That we still are.
Call me by my old familiar name
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes
We enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me,
Let my name be ever the household word that
It always was.
Let it be spoken without effort,
Without the trace of a shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant
It is the same as it ever was
There is absolutely unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am
Out of sight? I am but waiting for you
For an interval
Somewhere very near
Just around the corner .
All is well.
Canon Henry Scott Holland (1847-1918)

Goodbye
I turn my head and look towards death now.
Feeling my way through the tunnel with the space of
emptiness and quiet.
The shimmering silence that awaits me.
This is my direction now; inward to the green pastures...
The cares of the world concern me no longer.
I have completed this life. My work is done, my
children grown.
My husband is well on his hero's journey.
I have loved much and well...
Those I leave behind, I love.
I hope I will remain in their hearts as they will
in mine...
Thank you for taking such good care of me...
And all of you who have been my friends, thank you
for teaching me about love.
Karen Vervaet

Celebration of Life
The celebration of life,
shared in the beginning, and again, in the end.
Yet we forget to celebrate it, in every moment we live.
Time, days, years, go on, but are we alive?
Alive and do not know it, sleeping in the world
and dead to the life we are to live.
To celebrate all life,
the sparrow who sang in the morning,
and died in the night,
why do we not celebrate its life?
To know thyself is to know you are alive -
to give, to love, to seek truth, beauty, and suffer pain.
In life as it is meant to be, pain is forgotten, and
strength is all that's left to be gained
in the moment by moment celebration of life.
By Deborah Peabody

As We Look Back
As we look back over time
We find ourselves wondering
Did we remember to thank you enough
For all you have done for us?
For all the times you were by our sides
To help and support us
To celebrate our successes
To understand our problems
And accept our defeats?
Or for teaching us by your example,
The value of hard work, good judgment,
Courage and integrity?
We wonder if we ever thanked you
For the sacrifices you made.
To let us have the very best?
And for the simple things
Like laughter, smiles and times we shared?
If we have forgotten to show our
Gratitude enough for all the things you did,
We're thanking you now.
And we are hoping you knew all along,
How much you meant to us.

Love Lives On
Those we love remain with us
for love itself lives on,
and cherished memories never fade
because a loved one's gone.
Those we love can never be
more than a thought apart,
far as long as there is memory,
they'll live on in the heart.

To laugh often and much;
to win the respect of the intelligent people
and the affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty;
to find the best in others;
to leave the world a bit better
whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
to know that one life has breathed easier
because you lived here.
This is to have succeeded.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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