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May 3, 2021 · When Great Trees Fall - Maya Angelou. Angelou wrote this poem for fellow poet James Baldwin's funeral. She doesn't shy away from some of the more painful feelings that come with grief. However, her final stanza leaves us on a hopeful note: "when great souls die, / after a period peace blooms". "We can be.
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- Immortality by Clare Harner. 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.
- There Is No Night Without A Dawning by Helen Steiner Rice. 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.
- Turn Again To Life by Mary Lee Hall. 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.
- Farewell by Anne Bronte. 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.
- “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.
- Death - Sean Hughes. Sean Hughes was a British-Irish comedian who you might recognise from Never Mind the Buzzcocks. His poem Death was shared widely when he passed away and was also printed in The Guardian – a humorous farewell considering the poem jokes “I want the Guardian to misprint three lines about me or to be mentioned on the news”.
- Last Will and Testament – Max Scratchmann. Max Scratchmann is one of the best-known writers of funny funeral poems. He uses nonsense verse to tackle the usually dark and gloomy subject and add a touch of humour and light.
- Death – Joe Brainard. Death by Joe Brainard is a sincere and funny funeral poem. While it talks about death seriously, there are a few funny lines thrown in to lighten the tone.
- A Long Cup of Tea – Michael Ashby. If your loved one enjoyed a good brew, A Long Cup of Tea by Michael Ashby could remind you of them. This poem has a jolly, laid-back tone, making death sound comforting rather than being something to fear.
In this article, we will explore a selection of inspirational poems about death that can provide solace and ignite a renewed appreciation for life. 1. "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas. 2. "Because I could not stop for Death" by Emily Dickinson. 3. "When Great Trees Fall" by Maya Angelou. 4.
Aug 9, 2024 · Parting is hell. But life goes on, So sing as well. 3. Peace My Heart by Rabindranath Tagore. Peace, my heart, let the time for the parting be sweet. Let it not be a death but completeness. Let love melt into memory and pain into songs. Let the flight through the sky end in the folding of the wings over the nest.
Feb 23, 2022 · Sonnet 18. As one of the most famous writers of all time, it's no surprise William Shakespeare penned one of the most famous poems about death. In Sonnet 18 he writes, "Nor shall death brag thou wander'st in his shade." The basic sentiment of the poem is that the subject of the poem can never truly die because he will live on forever in the ...
