Inspirational Death and Memorial Poems

This blog post is dedicated to all of those who are coping with the death of a loved one. It contains grieving death poems and inspirational memorial poems to uplift the spirit. It is my hope that the bereaved will find some comfort in these words. You can also read an article at this link with inspirational death quotes and poems.

 Butterfly Picture from pdphoto.org

Do not stand at my grave and weep
by Mary Elizabeth Frye
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 glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
(Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die!)

(Inspirational Funeral Poem by Mary Elizabeth Frye)

Metal Art by Injete: Golden Flower

  

Until We Meet Again

by Injete Chesoni

Death is a brief separation
A temporary pain
Grieve not my dear
The sun will shine again
Death separates our bodies
But our hearts remain the same
And the memories of our love
Will soothe away your pain
And carry you over
Until we meet again. 

(Grieving Death and Funeral Poems by Injete Chesoni)

 Rainbow over Waterfalls: by Richard Wang at Wikimedia

Miss Me But Let Me Go
Attributed to Edgar A. Guest
When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room.
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little–but not too long
And not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love that we once shared,
Miss me–but let me go.
For this is a journey that we all must take
And each must go alone.
It's all a part of the Master's plan,
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick of heart
Go to the friends we know
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds.
Miss Me–But Let me Go.

(Inspirational Sympathy Death Poem by Edgar Guest)

Vintage Butterfly Art: www.reusableart.com

I Am Not Gone
by Injete Chesoni
I am not gone
I remain here beside you
Just in a different form
Look for me in your heart
And there you will find me
in our love which forever lives on

In those moments when you feel alone
Look for me in your thoughts
And there you will find me
in sweet memories that burn strong

Every time a tear
Forms in your beautiful eyes
Look up to the heavens
And there you will see me
Smiling down from God’s glorious skies

(Inspirational Sympathy and Memorial Poem by Injete Chesoni)

Sunset Over Ocean from pdphoto.org

A Psalm Of Life

by Henry Longfellow
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

(Funeral Death Poem by Henry Longfellow) 

Praying Hands: Metal Art Card by Injete

Forever Remembered

by Injete Chesoni
Even after life is gone
In our hearts your love lingers on
Even after you have left our sight
In our thoughts
your light shines bright
Even after you are gone
In our memories
you forever live on. 

(Death Memorial Poem by Injete Chesoni)

Remembering My Father's Favorite Inspirational Poems

I was writing a blog post on grieving and in the course of my writing I remembered my late father. He loved books, poetry and quotes and I remembered two of his favorite inspirational poems, If by Rudyard Kipling and Don't Quit by an unknown author. They are both wise and inspiring poems so I would like to share them in this blog post.

If, Kipling, Rudyard
Art Print
Buy at AllPosters.com

IF (Inspirational Poem by Rudyard Kipling)

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Don't Quit Art Print
Chiu, T. C.
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DON'T QUIT (Inspirational Poem, Author Unknown)

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

- Author unknown