A religious funeral service has sections of the bible mixed with readings and hymns, if music is allowed, but a secular or humanist or long religious service can include one, two or three poems. Poems can provide a break from the emotion of talking about the deceased. The poet may express your feelings more succinctly, give words when you have run out of things to say and suitable stories to say, suggest happy thoughts, or give images of happy times, metaphors of survival renewal and life going on.
Elephants March On
by Angela Lansbury
Big, strong elephants mourn their dead,
Small dogs or cats will whine or pause
Puzzled that they see something strange,
When small things or great friends have changed
They want to help, and know the cause
Then you admit some creature's dead
Doesn't lift hand, or leg, or turn a head
What's left to be done's now all up to you
To work, cook, clean and re-make the bed.
For a day, week, or year, you may feel alone
Miss the voice that used to answer the phone
And that's why we're all here to help
To tell each other, you're not alone
We are sorry to lose that link in our chain
A link just like us, which made us strong
A link which taught, helped us get along
Which would want their chain to grow strong again
Like the elephants, dog and cat move on
Silent at first, but don't complain
A year from now, I promise you
You'll shrug at the rain, smile again
Strangers say sorry somebody's died
Some like to think that there's a soul
That stays to help, guide, through life's turns
Lessons, memories, make us whole
(So turn to your friends, pause a while
Nod, shake hands, hug, what helps you best
Our loved one's now at peace and at rest
Happy we'll march on strong and smile.
-version 1 ends-
Grammatically best is an adjective so the line ending best should be most.
Strong is an adjective, and if we want the word strong to describe the action rather than the person we must change it to strongly.
You may prefer version 1 if grammar doesn't bother you.
If the grammatical error intrudes, version 2 rewritten ends differently:)
So turn to your friends, pause a while
Nod, shake hands, hug, what helps you most
Our loved one's a peaceful wave on the coast
Wave goodbye, march on strongly, smile.
-version 2 ends-
RIP Pearl
copyright Angela Lansbury 2015
Elephants March On
by Angela Lansbury
Big, strong elephants mourn their dead,
Small dogs or cats will whine or pause
Puzzled that they see something strange,
When small things or great friends have changed
They want to help, and know the cause
Then you admit some creature's dead
Doesn't lift hand, or leg, or turn a head
What's left to be done's now all up to you
To work, cook, clean and re-make the bed.
For a day, week, or year, you may feel alone
Miss the voice that used to answer the phone
And that's why we're all here to help
To tell each other, you're not alone
We are sorry to lose that link in our chain
A link just like us, which made us strong
A link which taught, helped us get along
Which would want their chain to grow strong again
Like the elephants, dog and cat move on
Silent at first, but don't complain
A year from now, I promise you
You'll shrug at the rain, smile again
Strangers say sorry somebody's died
Some like to think that there's a soul
That stays to help, guide, through life's turns
Lessons, memories, make us whole
(So turn to your friends, pause a while
Nod, shake hands, hug, what helps you best
Our loved one's now at peace and at rest
Happy we'll march on strong and smile.
-version 1 ends-
Grammatically best is an adjective so the line ending best should be most.
Strong is an adjective, and if we want the word strong to describe the action rather than the person we must change it to strongly.
You may prefer version 1 if grammar doesn't bother you.
If the grammatical error intrudes, version 2 rewritten ends differently:)
So turn to your friends, pause a while
Nod, shake hands, hug, what helps you most
Our loved one's a peaceful wave on the coast
Wave goodbye, march on strongly, smile.
-version 2 ends-
RIP Pearl
copyright Angela Lansbury 2015
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