Poem Selections:

Poem 1 - God's Garden

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.

God's garden must be beautiful,

He always takes the best.

He knew that 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 were hard to climb.

So 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.

Poem 2 - Footprints in the Sand

One night a man had a dream.

He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.

Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.

For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand:

one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand.

He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints.

He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it:

"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way.

But I have noticed that during the most

troublesome times in my life,

there is only one set of footprints.

I don't understand why when

I needed you most you would leave me."

The Lord replied:

"My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you.

During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

Poem 3 - Do Not Stand at My Grave

Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there, I do not sleep,

I am the thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glint on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain,

I am the gentle autumn rain,

I am the shining star at night,

When you wake to the morning light.

My time has come, I am at rest,

I am the sunset in the west,

I am the clouds that race above,

Where I watch over those I love.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there, I do not die,

So hear these words that here I say,

I am the love that guides your way.

Poem 4 - I Leave Myself To Your Memory

I leave myself to your memory, with love I leave my thought,

my laughter, my dreams to you whom I have treasured.

I give you what no thief can steal,

the memories of our times together:

the tender moments,

the successes we have shared,

the hard times that brought us close together

and the road we have walked side by side.

I also leave you a solemn promise

that after I am home in the arms of God,

I will still be present, whenever and wherever you call on me.

Whenever you are in need, call me;

I will come to you, to be your avenue to God.

And all I take with me as I leave is your love

and the millions of memories of all that we have shared.

So I truly enter my new life as a millionaire.

Fear not nor grieve at my departure,

you whom I have loved so much,

for my roots and yours are forever intertwined.

Poem 5 - I'm Free

Don't grieve for me for I am free,

I'm following paths God made for me,

I took His hand, I heard Him call,

Then I turned and bid, farewell to all.

I could not stay another day,

To laugh, to love, to sing, to play,

Tasks left undone must stay that way,

I found peace at close of day.

And if my parting left a void,

Then fill it with remembered joy,

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,

Ah yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened deep with sorrow,

I wish you sunshine of tomorrow,

My life's been full, I've savoured much,

Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,

Don't lengthen it now with undue grief,

Lift up your heart and share with me,

God wants me now,

He set me free.

Poem 6 - Miss Me, But Let Me Go

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 a little - 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.

Poem 7 - Death is Nothing At All

Death is nothing at all

I have only slipped away into 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.

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 unbroken continuity.

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight I am waiting for you,

for an interval, Somewhere very near, just around the corner.

All is well.

Poem 8 - You Never Said Goodbye

You never said I'm leaving

You never said goodbye

You were gone before we knew it,

And only God knew why

A million times we needed you,

A million times we cried

If love alone could have saved you,

You never would have died

In life we loved you dearly

In death we love you still

In our heart you hold a place,

That no one could ever fill

It broke our heart to lose you,

But you didn't go alone

For part of us went with you,

The day God took you home

Poem 9 - When Tomorrow Starts Without Me

When tomorrow starts without me,
And I’m not there to see
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me,
I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me,
I know you’ll miss me too.
So when tomorrow starts without me,
Don’t think we’re far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I’m right here in your heart.

Poem 10 - Remember Me

Speak of me as you have always done.

Remember the good times, laughter, and fun.

Share the happy memories we've made.

Do not let them wither or fade.

I'll be with you in the summer's sun

And when the winter's chill has come.

I'll be the voice that whispers in the breeze.

I'm peaceful now, put your mind at ease.

I've rested my eyes and gone to sleep,
But memories we've shared are yours to keep.

Sometimes our final days may be a test,

But remember me when I was at my best.

Although things may not be the same,

Don't be afraid to use my name.

Let your sorrow last for just a while.

Comfort each other and try to smile.

I've lived a life filled with joy and fun.
Live on now, make me proud of what you'll become.

Poem 11 - When I Must Leave You

When I must leave you for a little while

please do not grieve and shed wild tears

and hug your sorrow to you through the years

but start out bravely with a gallant smile;

and for my sake and in my name live on and do all things the same,

feed not your loneliness on empty days,

but fill each waking hour in useful ways,

reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer and I in turn will comfort you

and hold you near; and never, never be afraid to die,

for I am waiting for you in the sky!

Poem 12 - Along The Road

Along the road to yesterday,
That leads me straight to you,
Are memories of happy days,
Together we once knew.
A silent grief that’s in our hearts,
No human eye can trace,
For many a broken heart is hid,
Behind a smiling face.
A light is from our household gone,
A voice we loved is still,
A place is vacant in our home,
That never can be filled.
May the God of love and mercy,
Care for our loved one who is gone,
And bless with consolation,
Those left to carry on.
Lonely is the home without you,
Life to us is not the same,
All the world would be like heaven,
If we could have you back again.

Poem 13 - The Reason

They say there is a reason,
They say that time will heal,
But neither time nor reason,
Will change the way we feel.
For no-one knows the heartache,
That lies behind our smiles,
No-one knows how many times,
We have broken down and cried.
Gone from home that smiling face,
Those cheerful, happy ways,
The heart that won so many friends,
In bygone, Happy days.
We want to tell you something,
So there won’t be any doubt,
You’re so wonderful to think of,
But so hard to be without.
We cannot bring the old days back.
When we were all together,
The family chain is broken now,
But memories live forever.

Poem 14 - If You Knew

If you knew where I am standing

If you could see the sights I see

If you could hear the angels singing

The songs they sing eternally

If you knew the One I'm holding

Could see the smile He smiles at me

If you knew where I am resting

You would not cry for me

I'm resting in the arms of Jesus

No other place would I rather be

So if you shed a tear

Please don't shed it for me

For if you knew where I am resting

You would not cry for me

Poem 15 - To Those Whom I Love & Those Who Love Me

When I am gone, release me. Let me go.
I have so many things to see and do.
You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears.
Be happy that we had so many beautiful years.
I gave to you my love. You can only guess
How much you gave to me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you each have shown,
But now it’s time I traveled on alone.
So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must.
Then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It’s only for a while that we must part,
So bless the memories within your heart.
I won’t be far away, for life goes on.
So if you need me, call and I will come.
Though you can’t see or touch me, I’ll be near.
And if you listen with your heart,
You’ll hear all my love around you soft and clear.
And then, when you must come this way alone,
I’ll greet you with a smile and say welcome home.

Poem 16 - Do Not Cry Because I Have Gone

You can shed tears that I am gone,

Or you can smile because I lived,

You can close your eyes and pray that I will come back,

Or you can open your eyes and see all that I have left.

Your heart can be empty because you can't see me

Or you can be full of the love that you shared with me,

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,

Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember me and only that I am gone

Or you can cherish my memory and let it live on,

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back,

Or you can do what I would want:

smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

Poem 17 - Content

Now I am contented 
That my life it was worthwhile,
Knowing as I passed along the way 
I made somebody smile.
When you are walking down the street
And you’ve got me on your mind
I’m walking in your footsteps
Only half a step behind.
And when you face the gentle breeze
Or the wind upon your face,
I’m giving you a great big hug
Or just a soft embrace.
So please don’t be unhappy,
Just because I’m out of sight,
Remember that I’m with you,
Every morning, noon and night.

Poem 18 - We Lost a Mother/Father

We lost a father (mother) with a heart of gold,
How much we miss him (her) can never be told.
He (She) shared our troubles and helped us along.
If we follow his (her) footsteps, 
We can never go wrong.

We miss you from your fireside chair,
Your loving smile and gentle air.
Your vacant place, no one can fill,
We miss you father (mother) and always will.

He (She) was a father (mother) so very rare,
Content in his (her) home and always there.
On earth he (she) toiled, in Heaven he (she) rests,
God bless you father (mother),
You were one of the best.

Each time we look at your picture,
You seem to smile and say,
Don’t be sad, but courage take,
And love each other for my sake.

Poem 19 - An Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you
in the palm of his hand.

Poem 20 - Smile, For We Walked Together For a Little While

If it should be that I grow weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then you must do what must be done,
For this last battle cannot be won.

You will be sad, I understand.
Don’t let your grief then stay your hand.
For this day, more than all the rest,
Your love for me must stand the test.

We’ve had so many happy years.
What is to come can hold no fears.
You’d not want me to suffer so;
The time has come - please let me go.

Take me where my need they’ll tend,
And please stay with me till the end.
Hold me firm and speak to me,
Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time that you will see
The kindness that you did for me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I’ve been saved.

Please do not grieve - it must be you
Who had this painful thing to do.
We’ve been so close, we two, these years;
Don’t let your heart hold back its tears.
Smile, for we walked together for a little while.

Poem 21 - A Golden Heart Stopped Beating

A golden heart stopped beating,
Hard working hands at rest
It broke our hearts to see you go,
God only takes the best

They say that memories are golden,
Well may be that is true,
But we never wanted memories,
We only wanted you,

Your life was love and labour,
Your love for your family true,
You did your best for all of us,
We will always remember you.

We sat beside your bedside,
Our hearts were crushed and sore,
We did our duty to the end,
‘Til we could do no more.

In tears we watched you sinking,
We watched you fade away,
And though our hearts were breaking,
We knew you could not stay.

Our lips cannot speak how we loved you,
Our hearts cannot tell what to say,
But God only knows how we miss you,
In our home that is lonely today.

Poem 22 - Afterglow

I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one.

I’d like to leave an after glow 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.

Poem 23 - You Left us with a Legacy

Poem 24 - My Journey's Just Begun

Poem 25 - If Roses Grow in Heaven

If Roses grow in Heaven
Lord, please pick a bunch for me.
Place them in my Mother's arms
and tell her they're from me.

Tell her that I love her and miss her,
and when she turns to smile,
place a kiss upon her cheek
and hold her for awhile.

Because remembering her is easy,
I do it every day,
but there's an ache within my heart
that will never go away.

Poem 26 - I Want You To Be Happy

I want you to be happy.
I want you to fill your heart with feelings of wonder and to be full of courage and hope.
I want you to have the type of friendship that is a treasure

and the kind of love that is beautiful forever.
I wish you contentment: the sweet, quiet, inner kind that comes around and never goes away.
I want you to have hopes and have them all come true.
I want you to have a real understanding of how unique and rare you truly are.
I want to remind you that the sun may disappear for a while, but it never forgets to shine.
May the words you listen to say the things you need to hear.
And may a cheerful face lovingly look back at you when you happen to glance in your mirror.
I wish you the insight to see your inner and outer beauty.
I wish you sweet dreams.
I want you to have times when you feel like singing and dancing and laughing out loud.
I want you to be able to make your good times better and your hard times easier to handle.
I wish I could find a way to tell you – in untold ways – how important you are to me.
Of all the things I’ll be wishing for, wherever you are and whatever I may do,
There will never be a day in my life when I won’t be wishing for the best… for you.

Poem 27 - Time Will Ease You

The sadness of the present days is locked and set in time.
And moving to the future is a slow and painful climb.

But all the feelings that are now so vivid and so real
Can’t hold their fresh intensity as time begins to heal.

No wound so deep will ever go entirely away
Yet every hurt becomes a little less from day to day.

Nothing can erase the painful imprints on your mind
But there are softer memories that time will let you find.

Poem 28 - I'll Be There

There was no time to say goodbye
But this I ask – please do not cry
Remember me as you think best
The happy time – forget the rest.

Look for me and I’ll be there
And you will find me everywhere
In the gentle touch of breeze
That cools the skin or swirls the leaves.

In the scent and colour of flowers
That gave to me such happy hours
On sunny days under sunny skies of blue
Just think of me, I’ll be with you.

In winter when there’s cloud or mist
The rain will give to you my kiss
As wood smoke lingers in the air
Look for me and I’ll be there.

Where seagulls cry above the sea
And surf rolls in so endlessly
Among towering trees that soar above
In all these things that i once loved
Look for me and I’ll be there
You’ll feel my presence everywhere.

Poem 29 - Fallen Limb

A limb has fallen from the family tree.
I keep hearing a voice that says, “Grieve not for me”.
Remember the best times, the laughter, the song.
The good life I lived while I was strong.

Continue my heritage, I’m counting on you.
Keep smiling and surely the sun will shine through.
My mind is at ease, my soul is at rest.
Remembering all, how I truly was blessed.

Continue traditions, no matter how small.
Go on with your life, don’t worry about falls
I miss you all dearly, so keep up your chin.
Until the day comes we’re together again.

Poem 30 - If We Could Bring You Back Again

If we could bring you back again,
For one more hour or day,
We’d express all our unspoken love;
We’d have countless things to say.

If we could bring you back again,
We’d say we treasured you,
And that your presence in our lives
Meant more than we ever knew.

If we could bring you back again,
To tell you what we should,
You’d know how much we miss you now,
And if we could, we would.

Poem 31 - Until We Meet Again

A light from our lives has gone
A voice we loved is still.
A place is vacant within our hearts
Which never can be filled.

A bouquet of beautiful memories
Sprayed with a million tears.
I wish God could have spared you
If just for a few more years.

We hold you close within our hearts,
And there you will remain.
To walk with us through out our lives
Until we meet again.

So rest in peace dear loved one
And thanks for all you’ve done.
We pray that God has given you
The crown you’ve truly won.

Your vacant place no one can fill
We miss you now and always will.

Poem 32 - The Broken Chain

We little knew that day,
God was going to call your name.
In life we loved you dearly,
In death, we do the same.

It broke our hearts to lose you.
You did not go alone.
For part of us went with you,
The day God called you home.

You left us beautiful memories,
Your love is still our guide.
And although we cannot see you,
You are always at our side.

Our family chain is broken,
And nothing seems the same,
But as God calls us one by one,
The chain will link again.

Poem 33 - Butterfly Kisses

Don’t cry for me please don’t be sad
Hold on to the memories of the times we both had
Don’t dwell on dark thoughts hold on tight to your wishes
Sending you hugs and butterfly kisses

I walk beside you I am there all day long
I am right here but you think I am gone
You don’t see me but I can see you
Whatever the problems I will help get you through

I am the wind in your hair and sand in your toes
Butterfly kisses that you feel on your nose
I am with you at sunrise and in sunset
But you can’t see me is my one regret

I sit right beside you when you are sad
As you look through the photos of times we both had
I watch you sleeping I hold you so tight
Before I go I kiss you goodnight

I will watch over you from heaven above
Forever you will be my one true love
Hold on to your dreams and all your wishes
Sending you hugs and butterfly kisses

Poem 34 - Look For Me in Rainbows

Time for me to go now, I won’t say goodbye
Look for me in rainbows, way up in the sky

In the morning sunrise when all the world is new
Just look for me and love me, as you know I loved you

Time for me to leave you, I won’t say goodbye
Look for me in rainbows, high up in the sky

In the evening sunset, when all the world is through
Just look for me and love me, and I’ll be close to you

It won’t be forever, the day will come and then
My loving arms will hold you, when we meet again

Time for us to part now, we won’t say goodbye
Look for me in rainbows, shining in the sky

Every waking moment, and all your whole life through
Just look for me and love me, as you know I loved you

Just wish me to be near you
And I’ll be there with you