Do you need a Poem for a Funeral or Celebration of Life?
- Cas Holmes
- Jul 16
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 17
Last updated July 2026
Planning a funeral or celebration of life can feel overwhelming. A poem can offer a moment of stillness, meaning, and emotional connection — a way to honour your loved one with words that feel gentle, human, and true.
Poems help shape the atmosphere of a ceremony, whether you want comfort, reflection, celebration, or a sense of spiritual peace. Below is a curated selection of poems often chosen by families I support, each bringing its own tone and emotional depth.
Why poems matter in a funeral or celebration of life
They create emotional space for guests to breathe, reflect, and connect.
They honour individuality, capturing personality, values, and the essence of a life lived.
They offer comfort, especially when words are hard to find.
They work beautifully alongside readings, prayers, music, or personal tributes.
Poems in funerals and celebrations of life
Poems are one of the most commonly chosen elements in modern funerals and celebrations of life. UK funeral industry research including national trends published by Co‑op Funeralcare and SunLife’s annual Cost of Dying Report shows that around 70–80% of families include a poem or reading in their ceremony. It’s one of the most requested features after music and personal tributes.
Families tend to choose poems that feel gentle, reflective, or nature‑based, and this matches what funeral directors and celebrants see every day. Dignity Funerals, for example, notes that soft, reassuring poems are among the most frequently selected readings. Celebrations of life often lean toward more modern or uplifting poems, especially those that focus on gratitude, joy, or shared memories.
It’s also becoming more common for families to write their own poem. Celebrants across the UK observe that around one in ten families choose to create a short personal piece, which often becomes one of the most memorable moments of the ceremony. These poems don’t need to be perfect — they just need to feel true.
Poems don’t have to be read by just one person, either. Insights shared by members of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) suggest that around a quarter of families choose to have two or more people read the same poem, often alternating lines or sharing verses. This is especially meaningful in celebrations of life, where shared voices reflect shared love.
1. Funeral by rupi kaur
A tender, uplifting poem that reframes death as a celebration of a life fully lived. Kaur uses wedding imagery to evoke joy, colour, and togetherness — a reminder that endings can also hold beauty.
Themes: celebration, gratitude, gentle acceptance
Tone: modern, warm, poetic
‘When i go from this place
dress the porch with garlands
as you would for a wedding day my dear
pull the people from their homes
and dance in the streets
when death arrives
like a bride at the aisle
send me off in my brightest clothing
serve ice cream with rose petals to our guests
there's no reason to cry my dear
i have waited my whole life
for such a beauty to take
my breath away
when i go
let it be a celebration
for i have been here
i have lived
i have won at this game called life’
Can be found in the Suns and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur here The Sun and Her Flowers: Rupi Kaur: Amazon.co.uk: Kaur, Rupi: 9781471165825: Books
2. Desiderata: by Max Ehrman
A reflective prose poem offering calm guidance on how to live well. Many guests recognise it, which brings comfort and familiarity. It reads almost like a message from the person who has died, speaking wisdom back to us.
Themes: peace, kindness, perspective
Tone: classic, steady, reassuring
''Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time….''
Can be found here Desiderata: Original Text
3. The Summer Day by Mary Oliver
Mary Oliver invites us into nature, mindfulness, and the fleeting beauty of life. Her famous question — “What will you do with your one wild and precious life?” — often resonates deeply during a celebration of life.
Themes: nature, presence, purpose
Tone: gentle, contemplative
‘’Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
this grasshopper, I mean—
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down—
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?''
The poem can be found here New and Selected Poems, Volume One: 1: Amazon.co.uk: Oliver, Mary: 9780807068779: Books
4. God's Garden by Melissa Shreve
Written after the loss of her grandmother, this poem blends grief with spiritual comfort. It’s often chosen by families who want a faith‑based reading that feels tender and reassuring.
Themes: faith, peace, release
Tone: spiritual, comforting
''God looked around his garden and found an empty place
He then looked down upon the Earth and saw your tired face
He put his arms around you and lifted you to rest
With the help of his angels they flew you to your heavenly place
Gods garden must be beautiful, he always takes the best
He knew you were suffering, he knew you were in pain
He knew that you would never get well on Earth again
He saw the road was getting rough and the hills too hard to climb
He closed your weary eyelids and whispered “Peace be Thine”
It broke our hearts to lose you but you didn’t go alone
For part of us went with you the day God called you home.''
See here for more information God's Garden Poem by Melissa Shreve
5. “I Have Not Gone” by Unknown
A poem that speaks directly to grief, reminding us that love continues — in memories, in moments of joy, and in quiet nights when loss feels heavy. Families often choose it because it feels intimate and personal.
Themes: ongoing connection, love, presence
Tone: emotional, heartfelt
''You think I’ve gone, that I am dead, and life has lost its will,
But look around, I am right there, living with you still
I watch your tears, I feel your pain – I see the things you do
I weep as well, each time you cry, my soul, it lives with you
It gives such joy to hear you laugh, and do the things you do
And when you smile o’er by gone days, I smile right with you too
For we’re still one, just you and me, one mind, one soul, one being
Walking forward into life, though only you are seen
And in the stillness of the night, when the pain it really starts
Stretch out a little with your mind and draw me to your heart
For I am always right in there, always by your side
For you have been, all my life’s days, my joy, my love my pride.''
Can be found here Do Not Weep For Me - Funeral Poem by Anon. | Funeral Guide
Conclusion: How poems enhance a ceremony
A poem can:
set the emotional tone
offer comfort to guests
reflect your loved one’s personality
create a moment of shared stillness
deepen the meaning of readings, music, or rituals
Whether read by you, a family member, a friend, or by me as your celebrant, a poem adds a layer of humanity and tenderness to the ceremony.
I offer warm, inclusive celebrant support across Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire. Please get in touch to see how I can help. You can reach me at ritesofw@gmail.com , 07305 002858 or via my contact page.
You can also explore my funeral and celebration of life services My reviews can be found here
Frequently Asked Questions About Funeral & Celebration of Life Poems
Do you need a poem at a funeral or celebration of life?
No. A poem isn’t essential, but many families choose one because it adds comfort, meaning, and a personal touch to the ceremony.
Can we write our own funeral or celebration of life poem?
Yes. Many families write their own poem or short tribute. It can be simple, heartfelt, and personal — you don’t need to be a poet for it to be meaningful.
Can more than one person read the poem?
Yes. Two or more people can read the same poem, either by alternating lines or sharing sections. This can feel very tender and symbolic, especially at a celebration of life.
What type of poem is best for a funeral or celebration of life?
Gentle, reflective, spiritual, or nature‑based poems work well. Popular choices include modern poems, classic readings, and short comforting verses.
Can we include more than one poem in the ceremony?
Yes. You can include one poem, several poems, or short excerpts throughout the funeral or celebration of life to shape the emotional tone.
Who usually reads the poem during the service?
A family member, friend, or celebrant can read the poem. Many families ask the celebrant to read it so they can stay present without worrying about speaking.
Are religious poems suitable for non‑religious funerals?
Yes. Many families choose spiritual or faith‑based poems because they offer comfort, even in non‑religious or humanist ceremonies.
Can a poem replace a tribute or reading?
Yes. A single poem can act as a simple, meaningful tribute if you prefer a shorter or more gentle funeral or celebration of life.