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Please don’t misunderstand this article’s title. We will not be giving you a list of mean-spirited poems that celebrate a person’s death. Instead, we will be giving you some ideas for poems that celebrate a life well-lived.
Some of the poems on our list are uplifting because they refer to the promise of an afterlife. These poems will appeal to those who believe in the assurance of salvation. Others may also have themes that rejoice that the deceased is now free from pain.
Before selecting a poem for your loved one’s funeral, please read our entire list. After all, most of the poems could be located under any category.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- Happy Funeral Poems for Mom or Grandma
- Happy Funeral Poems for Dad or Grandpa
- Happy Funeral Poems for a Child
- Happy Funeral Poems for a Sibling
- Happy Funeral Poems for a Partner or Spouse
- Happy Funeral Poems for a Friend
- Happy Funeral Poems for a Coworker or Colleague
- Happy Funeral Poems About Saying Goodbye
- Happy Funeral Poems About Outdoors, Flowers, or Nature
- Spiritual or Religious Happy Funeral Poems
Happy Funeral Poems for Mom or Grandma
Are you celebrating the life of the matriarch of your family? Here are some uplifting funeral poems to consider. You might also want to search for a non-death poem that describes the characteristics of an amazing mom.
1. “Sometime” by May Riley Smith
Perhaps you feel that the death of your loved one was the result of a senseless tragedy, leaving you wondering why bad things happen to good people. This poem addresses that age-old question. The last stanza reads,
“And if, through patient toil, we reach the land
Where tired feet, with sandals loosed, may rest,
When we shall clearly see and understand,
I think that we shall say, ‘God knew the best.’”
2. “Courage” by Jane Sayre
Sometimes people select a funeral poem based on the habits or hobbies of those who died. This poem describes life through the act of weaving. It begins,
“She strung a warp of courage
Upon her loom of days,
And wove her love in cross threads
Of gratitude and praise.”
3. “Evening” by Charles Simic
Although this may not necessarily be a “happy” funeral poem, it is one about peace and simplicity.
The central stanza of this poem says,
“Let all be simple. Let all stand still
Without a final direction.
That which brings you into the world
To take you away at death
Is one and the same:
The shadow long and pointy
Is its church.”
Happy Funeral Poems for Dad or Grandpa
Are you grieving the loss of a dad or a papa? Here are some poems that might give you a bit of solace in your time of fresh grief.
4. “Kinship” by Mamie Roehrig
Those who are comforted with the idea of Heaven will enjoy this poem by Mamie Roehrig. The speaker in the poem speaks of feeling sorrow, but then . . .
“Then I look up, and silently,
The stars of heaven comfort me.
In all their awesome majesty
These symbols of eternity
Speak words of courage to my soul,
And suddenly, I am made whole.”
5. “Father” by Ted Kooser
This poem is dated May 19, 1999, and begins,
“Today you would be ninety-seven
If you had lived.”
The poem, written by the son, describes the difficulties and pain of aging. The son expresses gratitude that his father was spared the challenges of the aging process.
We also love the list of things that the son misses about his dad. They include,
“The heartbeat under your necktie, the hand cupped on the back of my neck, Old Spice in the air, your voice delighted with stories.”
While this poem certainly wouldn’t make the list of funny funeral poems, we like how this poem gives a positive slant to dying in your prime.
6. “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden
If you are like most people, you probably overlooked the sacrifices your dad made to make your family comfortable. This famous poem by Robert Hayden describes how his dad would wake up early
“And put his clothes on in the blueblack cold,
Then with cracked hands that ached
From labor in the weekday weather made
Banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him.”
Happy Funeral Poems for a Child
Finding a “happy” funeral poem to use at a child’s funeral may feel like an impossible task. After all, there’s little to celebrate when a life is taken too soon.
7. “Day Lilies” by Hilda Butler Farr
The lily has significance on several levels. Not only is it commonly associated with funeral services, but it also has an added importance of being associated with purity – like the innocence of a child.
This poem is about the beauty of the flower that gives happiness to the beholder – but only for a brief time. The last stanza reads,
“A life so brief
That gives so much,
And brings to earth
A heavenly touch.”
8. “After the Rain” by Mabel Reed Wilson
Those of Christian faith may appreciate this poem that speaks of God’s promises – even after a moment of pain or tragedy. However, be mindful that this poem may not offer solace in every situation. This poem concludes:
“Everywhere God’s radiant beauty
Sparkles after the storm.”
Happy Funeral Poems for a Sibling
In most cases, your siblings are your first friends. They understand you like no one else, so losing a brother or sister may be especially difficult.
Here are some positive-minded funeral poems for a sibling’s funeral.
9. “The Golden Side” by Mary A. Kidder
Although it is not necessarily recommended that you tell someone in mourning to “look on the bright side of life,” you may, in fact, feel some happiness with this reminder. This poem ends:
“There was never a night without a day
Nor an evening without a morning;
And the darkest hour, the proverb goes,
Is the hour before the dawning.”
10. “To a Sundial” by Mandy Gerig
Did your sibling have a positive outlook on life? Celebrate this gift by sharing this poem, which may remind you of your sibling’s life philosophy.
The poem begins,
“Engraved beneath an old sundial
Of simple weather-aged design
Are found these words . . . I pause and smile,
‘I only mark the hours that shine.’”
Happy Funeral Poems for a Partner or Spouse
Perhaps you and your partner shared a favorite poem or song. If so, this might make the perfect selection to share at their funeral.
If not, here are some other poems that celebrate your happy union.
11. “A Moment to Remember” by Alice Kennelly Roberts
This poem describes that perfect moment “when all the world is harmony . . . A peaceful, perfect, wondrous whole.” Perhaps this moment was experienced as you spent time in nature. Or maybe you felt this perfection the first time you encountered your partner. Nevertheless, that “moment to remember” is worth celebrating.
12. “i thank you God for this most amazing” by e.e. cummings
The poet e.e. cummings received a lot of praise from critics for his unique style. The second stanza explains that the speaker of this poem is deceased. It reads:
(i who have died am alive again today,
And this is the sun’s birthday; this is the birth
Day of life and of love and wings: and of the gay
Great happening illimitably earth)
Happy Funeral Poems for a Friend
Many people turn to poetry and verse when suffering the loss of a good friend. Even if you’re not responsible for selecting a funeral poem for your friend, you might appreciate reading some of these selections as you navigate grief.
13. “Immortality” by Gail Elder James
Did your loved one enjoy flowers? If so, you might be reminded of your friend every time you see a bloom. Here’s a poem that describes that experience. It begins:
“I looked into the face of a flower,
Its honeyed fragrance filled the air,
And lo, within its glowing heart
My soul reached out and found you there.”
14. “Notes from the Other Side” by Jane Kenyon
Perhaps you are tired of funeral poems that include platitudes and predictable rhyme schemes. If so, consider “Notes from the Other Side.” The entirety of this poem reads,
“I divested myself of despair
And Fear when I came here.
Now there is no more catching
One’s own eye in the mirror,
There are no bad books, no plastic,
No insurance premiums, and of course
No illness. Contrition
Does not exist, nor gnashing
Of teeth. No one howls as the first
Clod of earth hits the casket.
The poor we no longer have with us.
Our calm hearts strike only the hour,
And God, as promised, proves
To be mercy clothed in light.
15. “Coda” by Jason Shinder
This poem begins with the line, “And now I know what most deeply connects us.” It ends with the answer: “That you’re my friend out here on the far reaches of what humans can find out about each other.”
Happy Funeral Poems for a Coworker or Colleague
You probably won’t be asked to select a funeral poem for a coworker or colleague. However, here are some poems to enjoy as you reflect on the life of a friend. Some are about the brevity of life, and others are about the things you are relieved of after you die.
16. “On a Fly Drinking Out of His Cup” by William Oldys
The speaker in this poem reflects on the brief life of a fly.
“Both alike are mine and thine
Hastening quick to their decline:
Thine’s a summer, mie’s no more,
Though repeated to threescore
Threescore summers when they’re gone,
Will appear a short as one!”
17. “Fidele’s Dirge” by William Shakespeare
This is a selection from Act IV of Cymbeline. The passage is about the things that are no longer a concern after death.
“Fear no more the frown o’the great,
Thou art past the tyrant’s stroke;
Are no more to clothe and eat;
To thee the reed is as the oak:
The sceptre, learning, physic, must
All follow this, and come to dust.”
18. “Our Revels Now Are Ended” by William Shakespeare
Perhaps this passage from Shakespeare describes your relationship with your coworker.
It begins:
“Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thin air;”
19. Afterglow by Helen Lowrie Marshall
Many of you will appreciate this poem by Helen Lowrie Marshall.
“I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one.
I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.
I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways,
Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days.
I’d like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun;
Of happy memories that I leave when life is done.”
20. “Death is Nothing At All” by Henry Scott Holland
This popular poem describes death as only “slipping into the next room.” It encourages the reader to “Let my name be ever the household word that it always was,
Let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of shadow on it.”
21. “Dream” by Paul Hostovsky
Have you had a dream about your loved one who has passed? While this might not make an ideal funeral poem, you might connect with this poem’s description of dreaming about the deceased.
Happy Funeral Poems About Saying Goodbye
Not every funeral poem is a dirge. Here are some poems with unique views of grief, death, and the afterlife.
22. “Companion” by Jo McDougall
Grief is a character in this poem by Jo McDougall.
“When I protested,
She assured me it would be
Only for a little while.
Then she fell in love with the house,
Re-papered the rooms,
Laid green carpet in the den.”
This isn’t a happy funeral poem, but it is one that gives a unique view of grief.
23. “Naming” by Carol Lynne Knight
This poem is similar in theme to the earlier poem by Jo McDougall. In this one, grief is described as a:
“stray cat I name,
That demands I feed him.
He comes and goes,
Sometimes demands I feed him.”
24. “Talking to Grief” by Denise Levertov
This poem describes grief like a homeless dog.
"Ah, grief, I should not treat you
like a homeless dog
who comes to the back door
for a crust, for a meatless bone.
I should trust you.
I should coax you
into the house and give you
your own corner,
a worn mat to lie on,
your own water dish.
You think I don’t know you’ve been living
under my porch.
You long for your real place to be readied
before winter comes. You need
your name,
your collar and tag. You need
the right to warn off intruders,
to consider my house your own
and me your person
and yourself
my own dog."
25. “The Window” by Rumi
This poem beautifully acknowledges the connections with our loved ones in the afterlife. This short piece of verse reads in its entirety:
“Your body is away from me,
But there is a window open
From my Heart to Yours.
From this window, like the moon,
I keep sending news secretly to You.”
26. “From Rooms Remembered” by Laure-Anne Bosselaar
Some people look for signs that their loved ones are trying to communicate with them from the afterlife. This poem pokes fun at it, but then again . . .
“Yet the sky is so still – so lit. Again, those knocks
At the window. It’s not him.
Of course it isn’t.”
27. “Alone” by Jack Gilbert
“Alone,” tells the story about how a loved one returned in the form of a neighbor’s dalmatian. The speaker in the poem sometimes visits the dog when no one is around.
“When she
Finally quiets, she puts her head in my lap
And we watch each other’s eyes as I whisper
In her soft ears.”
Happy Funeral Poems About Outdoors, Flowers, or Nature
There’s a lot of funeral poetry that uses imagery from the natural world. Here are some examples.
28. “After Her Death” by Mary Oliver
Mary Oliver is known for writing accessible poems. In this one, the speaker describes preparing for a reading at church. Instead, she is distracted.
“The trees keep whispering
peace, peace, and the birds
in the shallows are full of the
bodies of small fish and are
Content. They open their wings
so easily, and fly. So. It is still
Possible.”
29. “A Different Sun” by Kolbein Falkeid
You may feel the whole world is different after losing your loved one.
Here’s Kolbein Falkeid’s piece translated from the original Norwegian.
“Silent around the boat, silent
like stars when Earth is switched off and people’s words,
faltering thoughts and dreams are forgotten.
I place the oars in their rowlocks,
lower and raise them. Listen.
The small splash of drops in the ocean
cement the silence. Slowly, towards a different sun
I turn my boat in the mist: The tight-knit nothing
of life. And row,
Row.”
30. “Eagle Poem” by Joy Harjo
Take time to read the entirety of “Eagle Poem” by Joy Harjo. She was the first Native American poet laureate of the U.S. Harjo is a member of the Muscogee Nation.
31. “Twice Blessed” by David Whyte
This poem begins:
“So that I stopped
There
And looked
Into the waters
Seeing not only
My reflected face
But the great sky
That framed
My lonely figure
And after a moment
I lifted my hands
And then my eyes
And I allowed myself
To be astonished.”
32. “Cruising the Supernova” by Michael Ashby
Michael Ashby describes the deceased as a sailor in this funeral poem.
“The sailor waved and bowed to mother earth
Before joining a round-the-universe race.”
33. “To Daffodils” by Robert Herrick
This classic poem begins:
“Fair daffodils, we weep to see
You haste away so soon:
As yet the early-rising sun
Has not attained his noon
Stay, stay,
Until the hasting day
Has run
But to the evensong;
And, having prayed together, we
Will go with you along.”
34. “Bright Star” by John Keats
You probably have heard of John Keats. However, it is interesting to note that the poet did not have a long life. He died at the age of 25 from tuberculosis.
“Bright Star” is a romantic poem that may take time to interpret. Basically, the speaker is stating that since he cannot live forever, “Pillow’d upon my fair love’s ripening breast,” he would rather die.
Spiritual or Religious Happy Funeral Poems
Are you looking for a happy (or uplifting) funeral poem? If so, look for one that speaks of the afterlife. Here are some spiritual funeral poems to consider.
35. “After Her Death” by Mary Oliver
Mary Oliver is known for writing accessible poems. In this one, the speaker describes preparing for a reading at church. Instead, she is distracted.
“The trees keep whispering
peace, peace, and the birds
in the shallows are full of the
bodies of small fish and are
Content. They open their wings
so easily, and fly. So. It is still
possible.”
36. “the raising of lazarus” by Lucille Clifton
The title of this poem refers to a miracle Jesus performed while on Earth.
Here’s the piece in its entirety:
“The dead shall rise again
Whoever say
Dust must be dust
Don’t see the trees
Smell rain
Remember Africa
Everything that goes
Can come
Stand up
Even the dead shall rise.”
37. “Heaven” by Patrick Phillips
Here’s this poet’s description of Heaven:
“It will be the past
And we’ll live there together.
Not as it was to live
But as it is remembered.
It will be the past.
We’ll all go back together.
Everyone we ever loved,
And lost, and must remember.
It will be the past.
And it will last forever.”
38. “God’s Garden” by Unknown
There are several versions of this popular funeral poem, which begins:
“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.”
39. “Don’t Weep” by Unknown
This poem is reminiscent of the famous funeral poem “Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep.”
“Don’t weep at my grave,
For I am not there,
I’ve a date with a butterfly
to dance in the air.
I’ll be singing in the sunshine,
Wild and free,
Playing tag with the wind,
Please don’t weep for me.
How can I live
What am I to do
Now a part of my heart
Is buried with you?”
40. “God’s Promise” by Unknown
This poem reminds the faithful of God’s promise:
“God never promised a life without pain,
Laughter without tears or sun without rain.
But He did promise strength for the day,
Comfort for the tears and the light for the way,
And for all who believe In His Heaven above
He rewards their faith In His everlasting love.”
Funeral Poems Don’t Have to Make You Cry
While some families may choose a sad poem for their loved one’s funeral, this isn’t a necessity. Instead, feel free to select a poem that makes people smile.
Turn to Cake for all of your funeral-planning needs. You can also learn more about funeral practices (such as Buddhist funeral traditions), estate planning, and how to offer sympathy to a grieving family.
