Search results
Through vivid imagery and evocative language, poets have captured the essence of death, exploring its various facets and contemplating its profound impact on the human experience. In this article, we delve into the rich tapestry of poems that paint striking images of death, inviting readers to reflect on its inevitable presence.
- Immortality by Clare Harner
- There Is No Night Without A Dawning by Helen Steiner Rice
- Turn Again to Life by Mary Lee Hall
- Farewell by Anne Bronte
- If I Should Go by Joyce Grenfell
- I Felt An Angel – Author Unknown
- His Journey’s Just Begun by Ellen Brenneman
- Peace My Heart by Rabindranath Tagore
- If I Should Go Tomorrow – Author Unknown
- Crossing The Bar by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
This inspirational poem about the death of a loved one invites us to look for them all around us in the beauty of the world. Written as if spoken by the deceased, the poem tells us that whilst their body may be given to the ground, their presence lives on. This comforting, heartfelt message doesn’t mean that we can’t miss someone, but it reminds us...
This short poem is a popular choice for funerals because it reminds us that despite the death of someone we cared about, the darkness of our grief will pass. Whilst death is hard to bear at first, this poem tells us that those who have died have found peace in a “brighter day.” That’s a reassuring thought for those who mourn.
This beautiful poem was perhaps made most famous for having been read at Princess Diana’s funeral. It urges the listener – the griever – to not mourn for long, but to embrace life once more. It tells us to look for those who are also in need of comfort and to take up the mantle left to us by the dearly departed.
This is another well known poem about death that reminds us not to think of it as a final goodbye. Instead, it encourages us to cherish the fond memories we have of our loved one so as to keep them alive within us. It also urges us to never let go of hope – hope that we will soon find joy and smiles where now we have anguish and tears.
Another poem written as if spoken by the departed, it urges those left behind to remain who they are and not let grief change them. Of course, it is always sad to say goodbye, but life has to go on and you have to keep on living it to the best of your abilities. You may also like (poems continue below): 1. 10 Of The Best Poems About Life Ever To Ha...
This poem about loss is not attributed to anyone in particular, but it is a true gift, whoever the author was. It tells us never to overlook the presence of a deceased loved one – the angel described in these words. Even though they may not be with us physically, they always remain with us in spirit.
Here’s another uplifting and inspirational poem about death that encourages us to think of a loved one not as gone, but as on another part of their journey. It doesn’t specifically talk about an afterlife, but if that is what you believe, this poem will be of great comfort to you. If you don’t believe in such things, it also talks about a person’s ...
When someone we care about dies, peace may seem a long way off in the future. But it needn’t be, as this poem shows. If we seek not to resist the passing, but to see it as a grand resolution to something beautiful – a life – we can have peace even as a loved one drifts away. It calls us to accept that nothing is permanent and to respect that life g...
Another poem of unknown origin, it calls us to look upon death not as a goodbye, but as a transition in how we communicate with our loved ones. No longer may they be here with us, but their love can always be felt – the heavens and stars in this verse possibly representing the world around us.
At first glance, this poem might appear to have little to do with death, but the metaphors it uses speak clearly of the transition from life to death. The ‘bar’ refers to a sandbar or submerged ridge between the ocean and a tidal river or estuary and the author hopes for a tide so large that there will be no waves on this ridge. Instead, as he emba...
- “Analysis of death is not for the sake of becoming fearful but to appreciate this precious lifetime.” - Dalai Lama. As a Buddhist (the most senior Buddhist on earth, no less), the Dalai Lama believes in reincarnation.
- “I have now decided that my death should be very precious. I really want to use it. I’d like my death to be as interesting as my life has been, and will be.”
- “It’s part of the privilege of being human that we have our moment when we have to say goodbye.” - Patti Smith. Patti Smith said various eloquent things about death in this 2017 interview with Australian television .
- “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.” - Harriet Beecher Stowe. The celebrated nineteenth century American abolitionist and author Harriet Beecher Stowe is best remembered for her book Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which highlighted the plight of enslaved African Americans, and was a very influential novel of its time.
Feb 10, 2017 · “The Mower,” Philip Larkin. Here, Larkin takes a small, everyday death and blows it up to the size of the human condition. The last couplet makes me want to cry—but it also makes me want to go out into the world and make friends with it. The mower stalled, twice; kneeling, I found A hedgehog jammed up against the blades, Killed.
To me, the image that you get of death in this poem is not a scary one. The speaker is not presenting death as something you need to fear. Instead, she is saying that death is a pretty...
Explore a collection of poems about death, a theme poets have long depicted in various lights, from its ever-present nature to peaceful acceptance.
People also ask
Why do poets write about death?
How does Rupi Kaur describe her ideal funeral?
Should a Buddhist accept death peacefully?
Why did Dickinson write 'because I could not stop for death'?
What are some famous death quotes?
May 3, 2021 · Hopefully you'll have found something among these poems about death that resonates with you, whether you're reflecting on the life of a loved one, choosing an uplifting funeral poem or simply soothing your soul with some beautiful poetry.
