If you want to celebrate the life of someone who brought laughter and smiles to the world, funny funeral poems could be a good choice. Whether it’s a reading for Dad, Mum, Nan or Grandad, you’ll find a positive goodbye here.
These light-hearted and funny poems for funerals also work well as a message on a card or flowers, or simply to bring comfort to you and others who are mourning.
Funny funeral poems to say goodbye with a smile
Here’s a mix of humorous funeral poems that take a tongue-in-cheek look at death. Most of them are non-religious and would suit any light-hearted, non-traditional send-off.
Death - Sean Hughes
Sean Hughes was a British-Irish comedian who you might recognise from Never Mind the Buzzcocks. His poem Death was shared widely when he passed away and was also printed in The Guardian – a humorous farewell considering the poem jokes “I want the Guardian to misprint three lines about me or to be mentioned on the news”. It makes a funny poem for a funeral, talking about how funerals can be boring but don’t have to be. That they can be an opportunity to celebrate the life of the person who’s passed and to catch up with family and friends who you might not see often.
“I want to be cremated
I know how boring funerals can be
I want people to gather
meet new people
have a laugh, a dance, meet a loved one.”
You can read the full poem in this article by The Guardian.
Last Will and Testament – Max Scratchmann
Max Scratchmann is well known for writing thoughtful and often hilarious funeral poems. He uses nonsense verse to tackle the usually dark and gloomy subject and add a touch of humour and light. ‘Last Will and Testament’ is one of the best examples of his work and could make an interesting and unusual funeral reading. Like Sean Hughes, Scratchmann looks at funerals as a chance to ‘have a party’, smile, laugh and reconnect with loved ones. He shares how this is what he wants when he passes away.
‘And as I sit upon my cloud and look down at the earth,
I'll watch you use my worldly goods for festival and mirth,
And that will make me smile a smile, and have a laugh quite hearty,
To hear you say, the bugger’s dead, let’s have ourselves a party.’
You can find the full poem, as well as more funny poems about death on Max Scratchmann’s website.
Death – Joe Brainard
‘Death’ by Joe Brainard is a sincere and funny funeral poem. While it talks about death seriously, there are a few funny lines thrown in to lighten the tone. It reminds us that death is a natural and inevitable part of life – a ‘perfectly normal thing to do’. It also encourages us to not be afraid of death and to be more open when talking about it. This is a reading that could offer comfort to others at a funeral.
‘Death has a very black reputation but, actually, to die is a
perfectly normal thing to do.’
Find the full poem on the Poetry Foundation.
A Long Cup of Tea – Michael Ashby
If your loved one enjoyed a good brew, ‘A Long Cup of Tea’ by Michael Ashby could remind you of them. This poem has a jolly, laid-back tone, making death sound comforting rather than being something to fear. It uses the voice of the person who’s passed away, helping you to imagine them as happy and at ease, enjoying a cuppa in the afterlife.
‘Death is too negative for me
So I'll be popping off for a long cup of tea
Do splash out on two bags in the pot
And for my God's sake keep the water hot.’
Take a look at the full poem.
Pardon Me For Not Getting Up – Kelly Roper
This funny funeral poem by Kelly Roper speaks from the point of view of the person who’s passed away. It takes a light-hearted and nonchalant approach to death, joking about ‘giving up the ghost’. It’s a good choice if you want to remember someone who was always accommodating and focused on making people comfortable.
‘Oh dear, if you’re reading this right now,
I must have given up the ghost.
I hope you can forgive me for being
Such a stiff and unwelcoming host.’
Short funny funeral poems
Are you looking for funny poems for funerals that are short enough to write in a condolence card? Try one of these 2 poems – they’re light-hearted and meaningful but only take up 4 lines each.
If I Should Go – Joyce Grenfell
‘If I Should Go’ is another funny funeral poem written from the point of view of someone who’s passed away. While it does accept that losing someone is one of the most difficult things you can face, it encourages you to accept this as part of life. It comforts you in saying that ‘life goes on’ and reminds you to celebrate the person who’s passed as well as mourning them.
‘Weep if you must
Parting is Hell
But life goes on
So sing as well.’
Read this humorous death poem in full on Poem Hunter.
Gaily I lived – Abbé Regnier
Most humorous poems for funerals are quite new. However, this brief, light-hearted poem dates back at least 100 years. It has a positive message that’s still relevant today: the poet has lived a full and happy life without ever once dwelling on his death.
‘Gaily I lived as ease and nature taught,
And spent my little life without a thought,
And am amazed that Death, that tyrant grim,
Should think of me, who never thought of him.’
Pam Ayres funeral poems
Pam Ayres is well-known in the UK for writing amusing poetry. So people are often surprised to find that there are Pam Ayres poems for funerals. These 2 pieces look at death and goodbyes in her usual relatable style.
Woodland Burial – Pam Ayres
‘Woodland Burial’ talks about Pam Ayres’ wish to be buried in a different way: in nature rather than a churchyard. It’s not exactly a light-hearted funeral poem – but it’s definitely more uplifting than most. It would suit someone who’s having a natural burial.
‘Don’t lay me in some gloomy churchyard shaded by a wall
Where the dust of ancient bones has spread a dryness over all,
Lay me in some leafy loam where, sheltered from the cold
Little seeds investigate and tender leaves unfold.’
In the video above, she talks about planning a woodland burial and reads the poem in full. You can also find the full poem written on Pam Ayres’ website.
With These Hands – Pam Ayres
‘With These Hands’ isn’t a poem about death but it would still make for a touching and humorous funeral reading. It’s about hardworking parents and the love they show to their children. So, if you’re looking for a funny funeral poem for Mum, Dad or another caregiver, take a look.
‘I cart the shopping, heave the coal,
Stick the plunger down the bowl,
Take foreign bodies from the eye
And with these hands I wave
Goodbye.’
Read this funny Pam Ayres funeral poem here.
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