Milton Ulladulla Funeral Poems & Verse

Death is nothing at all

I have only slipped away into the next room.
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.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effort.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was; there is absolutely unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of your mind because I am out of your sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval,
somewhere very near, just around the corner.
All is well. Nothing is past; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was – only better.
Infinitely happier and Forever – we’ll all be one together.

- Canon Scott Holland -

If Death is Kind

Perhaps if death is kind, and there can be returning,
We will come back to earth some fragrant night,
And take these lanes to find the sea,
And bending Breathe the same honeysuckle, low and white.
We will come down at night to these resounding beaches
And the long gentle thunder of the sea,
Here for a single hour in the wide starlight
We shall be happy, for the dead are free.

- Sara Teasdale -

A Bright New World

We feel so sad when those we love
Are touched by death’s dark hand
But it would ease our sorrow
If we could but understand

That death is just a gateway
That all men must pass through
And on the other side of death
In a world that’s bright and new

Our loved ones wait to welcome us
To that land free from all tears
Where joy becomes eternal
And time is not counted in years

- Helen Steiner Rice -

Afterglow

I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one,
I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when day is gone,
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.

- Author Unknown -

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 for 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 we all must take
As each must go alone
It’s all part of the master’s plan
A Step on the road to home
When we are lonely and sick of heart
Go to the friends you know
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds
Miss me but let me go

- Author Unknown -

Do not stand at my grave and weep

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 awake 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

- Mary Frye -

Garden of Family & Friends

We all have a cherished garden we tend-
It is planted with love of family and friends,
The memories and dreams we treasure and share
are like beautiful violets blooming there.
The comfort and care on which we depend;
Is given with love, between family and friends.
The sunshine of laughter and rain of a tear,
make our love grow, with each passing year.
We may all be ourselves with no need to pretend,
because of the love of family and friends.
They notice the rainbows and weather the showers,
They overlook the weeds and praise all the flowers.
The most valuable thing is the time that we spend,
tending this garden of family and friends.
When counting our blessings, we know from the start-
That family and friends come first in our heart.

- Author Unknown -

God's Garden Must Be Beautiful

God looked around the garden,
and found an empty space.
He 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,
for he only takes the best.
He knew that you were weary,
and he knew you were in pain.
He knew that you would never,
be well on earth again.
He saw the roads were getting rough,
and the hills were hard to climb.
So he closed your weary eyelids,
and whispered peace be thine.

- Author Unknown -

I'm Free

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free;
I’m following the path God laid for me.
I took his hand when I heard him call;
I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way;
I found that place at the close of day.

If my parting has 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 with times of sorrow;
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life’s been full, I 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 wanted me now, He set me free.

- Shannon Lee Moseley -

The Dash

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on his tombstone
From the beginning – to the end.

He noted that first came the date of his birth
And spoke of the following date with tears
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For the dash represents all the time
That he spent alive on earth….
And now only those who loved him
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own:
The cars …the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard…
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
[You could always be at dash mid-range.]

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real,
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile…
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy’s being read
With your life actions to rehash…
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

- Linda Ellis -

At Rest

Think of me as one at rest
For me you should not weep
I have no pain, no troubled thoughts
For I am just asleep

The living thinking me that was
Is now forever still
And time goes on without me
As time forever will

If your heart is heavy now
Because I’ve gone away
Dwell not long upon it, friend,
For none of us can stay

The answer to life’s riddle
In life I never knew
I go with hope that now I will
And even so will you

Oh foolish, foolish me that was
I who was so small
To have wondered, even worried
At the Mystery of it all

Those of you who liked me
I sincerely thank you all
And those of you who love me
I thank you most of all

And in my fleeting lifespan
As time went rushing by
I found some time to hesitate
To laugh, To love, To cry

Matters it now if time began
If time will ever cease
I was here, I used it all
And now I am at peace

- Author Unknown -

To Those I Love and 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,
O thank you for the love you each have shown,
But now its time I travelled on alone.

So grieve for me awhile if grieve you must,
Then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It’s only for awhile 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.”

- Author Unknown -

Today

There are two days in every week about which we should not worry, two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.
One of these days is Yesterday with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.
All the money in the world cannot bring back Yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed; we cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone.
The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow with its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise and poor performance. Tomorrow is beyond our immediate control.
Tomorrow’s sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds – but it will rise.
Until it does, we have no stake in Tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.
This leaves only one day – Today. Any man can fight the battles of just one day. It is only when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternities – Yesterday and tomorrow that we break down.
It is not the experience of Today that drives men mad – it is remorse and bitterness for something which happened Yesterday and the dread of what Tomorrow may bring.

- Author Unknown -

When I'm Gone

Now that I’ve come to the end of my journey
And I’ve travelled my last weary mile
Just forget, if you can that I ever frowned
And remember only my smile
Forget unkind words I have spoken
Remember some good that I have done
Forget that I ever had heartache
And remember I’ve had loads of fun
Forget that I’ve stumbled and blundered
And sometimes fell by the way

Remember I have fought some hard battles
And won, ere the close of day
Forget to grieve for my going
I would not have you sad for a day
But in summer just gather some flowers
And remember the place where I lay
And come in the shade of the evening
When the sun paints the sky in the west
Stand for a few moments beside me
And remember only my best.

- Lyman Hancock -

When Tomorrow Starts Without Me

When tomorrow starts without me
and I'm not here to see...
If the sun should rise and find your
eyes filled with tears for me,
I wish so much you wouldn't cry
the way you did today...
While thinking of the many things
we didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me,
as much as I love you...
And each time you think of me,
I know you'll miss me, too.
But when tomorrow starts without me,
please try to understand...
That Jesus came and called my name
and took me by the hand,
And said my place was ready
in heaven far above...
And that I'd have to leave behind
all those I dearly love.
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.

- David M Romano -