Poems and scriptures for funeral programs
A few lines on the back cover, or a passage facing the obituary, can say what the family can't. These are classic poems old enough to be freely used, and familiar scripture in the King James Version — the full text is here so you can copy what you need.
Poems
Each poem below is in the public domain, with its author and year of publication.
Remember
Christina Rossetti (1862)
A sonnet that gives the living permission to be happy again.
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.
Crossing the Bar
Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1889)
A peaceful image of setting out to sea. Often read at the close of a service.
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 crost the bar.
Death Is Nothing at All
Henry Scott Holland (1910)
From a sermon preached in St Paul's Cathedral. One of the most requested readings at memorial services.
Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away to the next room. I am I and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, that, we still are. Call me by my old familiar name. Speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference in your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes 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 effect, without the trace of a shadow on it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute unbroken continuity. 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 around the corner. All is well.
Because I could not stop for Death
Emily Dickinson (published 1890)
Opening stanzas. Quiet and unhurried — a kind description of being carried onward.
Because I could not stop for Death – He kindly stopped for me – The Carriage held but just Ourselves – And Immortality. We slowly drove – He knew no haste And I had put away My labor and my leisure too, For His Civility –
The Bustle in a House
Emily Dickinson (published 1890)
Eight lines about the morning after a loss. Short enough for a back cover.
The Bustle in a House The Morning after Death Is solemnest of industries Enacted upon Earth – The Sweeping up the Heart And putting Love away We shall not want to use again Until Eternity –
Scripture (King James Version)
Psalm 23
King James Version
The most frequently read passage at funerals.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
John 14:1–3
King James Version
A promise of a place prepared.
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Ecclesiastes 3:1–8
King James Version
On seasons, and the rightness of a time for everything.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
2 Timothy 4:7
King James Version
A single line that fits beautifully under a cover photo.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
Revelation 21:4
King James Version
Comfort for the family left behind.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Choosing what to include
Pick what sounds like them. If they quoted a verse often, or loved the sea, or laughed easily, let that guide you more than tradition.
Mind the space. A long poem may need its own page; a single line like 2 Timothy 4:7 sits beautifully under a cover photo.
Name the source. Printing the author and year, or the book, chapter and verse, is a small courtesy readers appreciate.
Be careful with modern poems and song lyrics. Recent work is usually still under copyright. Everything on this page is free to reprint.
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