Poems are used in all kinds of milestone events- weddings, anniversaries, birthdays- because of their ability to convey the beauty of life. The same goes for an uplifting memorial. Utilizing a celebration of life poem can be an added element to help put your sentiments into words.
Finding a Place for Celebration of Life Poems
Family and friends might use the reading of celebration of life poems as an inviting and illustrative way to open a memorial service. They could also serve as a profound way to close the program. Now all that is left is to choose the poem itself. In this article, we hope to help you get started in your search for the poem that will best honor your loved one.
Poems to Celebrate a Life Well Lived
A celebration of life event can be a time to remember and appreciate how your loved one’s life touched the lives of those around them. How did the life they led change the life you lead? The following poems remind readers to take a moment to honor the good their loved one did in the world, the trails they blazed, and the legacy they leave.
Success – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“… to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!”
When Great Trees Fall – Maya Angelou
“… They existed. They existed.
We can be. Be and be
better. For they existed.”
The Road Not Taken – Robert Frost
“… Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
Poems to Uplift in a Time of Loss
Many families Lighten has worked with have chosen poems to inspire an uplifting instead of sorrowful tone during the celebration of life. In some cases, the poems speak from the perspective of the loved one who has been lost, encouraging their family and friends to keep their heads up, to replace sorrow with gratitude, and to continue honoring the joy that life can bring.
She (He) Is Gone – David Harkins
“… You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
Or you can do what she would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.”
Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep – Mary Elizabeth Frye
“… I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain…”
The Ship – Henry Scott Holland
“… Gone from my sight. That is all.
She is just as large in mast and hull and spar
as she was when she left my side…”
Bird in the Mist – Anonymous
“… But, look into the grey wide sky,
And the thoughts will come like this:
Remember me when I loved you most and you loved me most.
Remember me when I was my bravest and I did you right…”
Uplifting Celebration of Life Poems
Sometimes it can be hard to find the right words to express the love you have for someone who has passed. Especially during what can be an overwhelming memorial planning process. Poems and other types of celebration of life quotes can support you in saying exactly what you want to highlight about your loved one – in an uplifting way. An uplifting celebration of life poem can help you convey your feelings through descriptions of beauty and wonder; messages of gratitude; and interpretations of love. Soon enough, you will find the words worthy of honoring your loved one.
