Finding the right words at the most difficult time is one of the most meaningful things you can do for someone you love. Whether you're planning a traditional church service, a humanist celebration of life, or a quiet graveside farewell, a carefully chosen poem or reading can capture what your heart struggles to say aloud.
This guide brings together 30 of the most beloved funeral poems and readings used at services across the UK — organised by theme and faith tradition — along with practical advice on how to choose, introduce, and deliver a reading with confidence.
How to Choose the Right Funeral Poem or Reading
Before searching for the 'perfect' poem, it helps to ask a few questions:
- What tone do you want? Gentle and reflective? Uplifting and celebratory? Quietly spiritual?
- What did the person believe? Religious readings will feel out of place at a secular service, and vice versa.
- Who is reading it? Some poems require confident delivery; others are gentle enough for someone who may be moved to tears.
- How long should it be? A typical service has room for one or two readings. Most poems take between one and three minutes to read aloud.
- Did the person have a favourite? If they loved literature, music, or nature, a reading that reflects their passions will feel far more personal.
Your NAFD-accredited funeral director can offer guidance on what works well at different types of services, and may be able to suggest readers, celebrants, or officiants who are experienced in bringing these words to life.
Classic Funeral Poems (Public Domain Full Texts)
These are the poems families across the UK have returned to again and again — for good reason. They speak directly to grief, love, and the hope that something of those we lose remains with us.
1. Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep — Mary Elizabeth Frye (1932)
Perhaps the most requested funeral poem in the UK, this short verse offers profound comfort by reimagining the presence of the person who has died.
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.
2. Remember Me — Christina Rossetti (1849)
Rossetti's quietly dignified poem gives the person who has died a generous, loving voice — releasing those left behind from prolonged grief.
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.
3. Crossing the Bar — Alfred Lord Tennyson (1889)
Tennyson wrote this shortly before his death and requested it be placed at the end of all collections of his work. It uses the imagery of a ship setting out to sea — serene and hopeful.
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 tho' from out our bourne 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.
4. Death Is Nothing at All — Henry Scott Holland (1910)
Originally a sermon given at St Paul's Cathedral following the death of King Edward VII, these words have become a cornerstone of funeral services across Britain.
Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.
Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, and you are you,
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that 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 an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute and unbroken continuity.
What is this death but a negligible accident?
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 round the corner.
All is well.
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
5. Requiem — Robert Louis Stevenson (1887)
Under the wide and starry sky,
Dig the grave and let me lie.
Glad did I live and gladly die,
And I laid me down with a will.
This be the verse you grave for me:
Here he lies where he longed to be;
Home is the sailor, home from the sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.
Modern and Contemporary Funeral Readings
Sometimes a piece of modern prose captures a feeling that older verse cannot. These readings are widely used in UK services today.
6. She Is Gone (He Is Gone) — David Harkins
This deceptively simple poem offers two paths through grief — and gently advocates for joy over sorrow. It is one of the most requested pieces at UK funerals today.
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 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'd want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
Note: David Harkins holds copyright to this poem. Permission should be sought for reproduction in printed order-of-service booklets. Many funeral directors can advise on this.
7. When I Am Gone — Joyce Grenfell (c. 1977)
Humorous and warm, Grenfell's words are perfect for celebrating a life lived with spirit and laughter.
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.
8. The Dash — Linda Ellis
This prose poem reflects on the 'dash' between the birth date and death date on a gravestone — and what we do with the time in between. Widely used at celebration-of-life services.
(Full text subject to copyright — available via the author's official website. Your funeral celebrant will be familiar with it.)
9. Epitaph — Merrit Malloy
A tender modern poem about love continuing after death, often read at the funerals of partners and spouses.
(Copyright protected — seek permission for printed use.)
Religious Funeral Readings
Christian Readings
10. John 14:1-3 — "Do not let your hearts be troubled"
One of the most frequently chosen Christian funeral readings, offering assurance of a place prepared in God's house. Suitable for both traditional and modern services.
11. Romans 8:38-39 — "Nothing can separate us from the love of God"
A powerful and comforting passage asserting that death itself cannot separate the believer from divine love.
12. Psalm 23 — "The Lord is My Shepherd"
Perhaps the most universally recognised funeral scripture, the 23rd Psalm speaks of guidance, protection, and the promise of dwelling in the house of the Lord. Familiar to most congregations, making it accessible even for those not regular churchgoers.
13. 1 Corinthians 13 — "Love is patient, love is kind"
Often associated with weddings, this reading is equally powerful at funerals — particularly for long partnerships or deeply loving family relationships.
Jewish Readings
14. Psalm 121 — "I lift up my eyes to the hills"
A pilgrimage psalm offering protection and care, traditionally read at Jewish funerals. Speaks to the idea of God as ever-present guardian.
15. El Maleh Rachamim (Prayer for the Souls of the Departed)
A traditional memorial prayer asking that the soul of the deceased find eternal rest. Typically chanted by a cantor; a printed English translation can be included in the order of service.
Muslim Readings
16. Surah Al-Fatiha (The Opening Chapter of the Qur'an)
Recited at Islamic funeral prayers (Salat al-Janazah), Al-Fatiha is a prayer of praise and guidance, and forms an essential part of the Janazah service.
17. Surah Al-Baqarah 2:156 — "Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return"
This verse (Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un) is traditionally recited upon hearing of a death and brings profound comfort in the context of Islamic belief in return to God.
Hindu Readings
18. Bhagavad Gita 2:20 — "The soul is never born nor dies at any time"
This verse articulates the Hindu understanding of the immortal soul (Atman) and is deeply comforting for those who believe in reincarnation and the eternal nature of the spirit.
19. Bhagavad Gita 2:22 — "As a person puts on new garments"
The metaphor of the soul changing bodies as a person changes clothes offers a gentle, accessible image for the cycle of life and rebirth central to Hindu belief.
Sikh Readings
20. Kirtan Sohila — The Evening Prayer
The Kirtan Sohila is recited at Sikh funerals (Antam Sanskar) and expresses gratitude for life, acceptance of God's will, and hope for union with the Divine. Selected passages may be read in translation at services attended by non-Sikh family members.
Non-Religious and Humanist Readings
Humanist funerals are among the fastest-growing in the UK, and the quality of secular readings available reflects that growing tradition.
21. We Remember Them — Sylvan Kamens & Rabbi Jack Riemer
A responsive reading used widely at memorial services and humanist funerals. Each stanza begins with a moment of life — sunrise, rain, music — followed by the refrain: "We remember them." Moving and participatory.
22. Excerpt from "The Prophet" (On Death) — Kahlil Gibran (1923)
For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides,
that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?
Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.
23. Immortality — Clare Harner (1934)
Do not think of me as gone —
I am with you still, in each new dawn;
In every gentle summer rain,
In every crocus that blooms again.
I am the first bright morning star,
I am the peace that follows far;
I am the wings of the dove on high,
The last faint whisper of a lullaby.
24. A Farewell — Charles Kingsley (1856)
My fairest child, I have no song to give you;
No lark could pipe to skies so dull and grey;
Yet, ere we part, one lesson I can leave you
For every day.
Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever;
Do noble things, not dream them, all day long;
And so make Life, and Death, and that For Ever
One grand, sweet song.
Poems for the Loss of a Parent
Losing a parent — even after a long life — leaves a particular kind of silence. These readings speak to that bond.
25. Those We Love Don't Go Away — Anonymous
Those we love don't go away,
They walk beside us every day,
Unseen, unheard, but always near,
Still loved, still missed and very dear.
26. A Mother's Love — Anonymous
Numerous versions of this poem circulate across the UK; your celebrant or funeral director will often have a preferred version. Common themes include the enduring nature of a mother's presence through seasons, memory, and love passed forward to the next generation.
27. If I Could Write a Letter (To Dad) — Various authors
A number of contemporary poets have written versions of this reflective piece. Ask your funeral director or celebrant to recommend a version that fits your family's tone — some are humorous, others quietly tender.
Poems for the Loss of a Child
There are no words adequate to the loss of a child. But the right reading can hold the weight of that love without diminishing it.
28. To My Dear and Loving Husband — Anne Bradstreet (adapted for a child)
With careful adaptation, Bradstreet's words about boundless love translate movingly to the parent-child relationship. Speak with your celebrant about how this might be personalised.
29. A Little Child Loaned — Author unknown
"I'll lend you for a little time a child of mine," He said,
"For you to love the while she lives and mourn for when she's dead.
It may be six or seven years, or twenty-two or three,
But will you, till I call her back, take care of her for me?
She'll bring her charms to gladden you, and should her stay be brief,
You'll have her lovely memories as solace for your grief."
Uplifting and Celebration of Life Poems
For services that are deliberately joyful — a party of a person's life rather than a sombre farewell — these readings strike the right note.
30. And Did Those Feet in Ancient Time — William Blake (c. 1804)
Better known as the hymn "Jerusalem," Blake's visionary verse works beautifully as a spoken reading, particularly for those with a fierce love of England, nature, or social justice.
Other uplifting choices well-suited to celebration-of-life services include:
- "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost — for independent souls who forged their own path
- "High Flight" by John Gillespie Magee Jr. — particularly for those with a love of aviation or the outdoors
- "Invictus" by W.E. Henley — for someone who faced great difficulty with extraordinary courage
- "Not How Did He Die, But How Did He Live?" — Anonymous verse often used when celebrating a life fully lived
Practical Tips for Delivering a Reading
- Practise aloud — not just in your head. Grief can make familiar words feel strange. Reading aloud several times before the service helps enormously.
- Print in large font — at least 14pt. Hands tremble, lighting varies, and emotions blur vision.
- Pause before you begin — take a breath, find your footing at the lectern, then start. A few seconds of quiet composure before you begin makes a significant difference.
- Speak slowly — you will naturally want to rush through it. Deliberately slow down.
- It's all right to cry — most people in the room will be moved. Take your time, breathe, continue.
- Have a backup reader — nominate someone who can step in if you find yourself unable to continue. This is not failure; it is love.
Planning a Service with an NAFD Funeral Director
Choosing poems and readings is just one part of planning a funeral that truly reflects the person you've lost. An NAFD-accredited funeral director will take the time to understand who your loved one was, what they believed, and what kind of farewell feels right — then help you build a service around those things.
NAFD members are bound by a strict Code of Practice, independently monitored, and supported by a free Funeral Arbitration Scheme — giving families real confidence that they're in safe, professional hands at the most difficult of times.
You can also use our funeral cost calculator to understand what different elements of a service might cost, so you can plan with clarity and without financial worry.
