REMEMBER
Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you planned:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.
– Christina Rosetti
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 a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there.
I did not die.
– Mary Frye
SHE IS GONE (HE IS GONE)
You can shed tears that she is gone
Or you can smile because she has lived
You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her
Or you can be full of the love that you shared
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday
You can remember her and only that she is gone
Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on
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.
– David Harkins
WHEN TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME
When tomorrow starts without me,
And I’m not there to see;
If the sun should riseand 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.
– David Romano
CROSSING THE BAR
Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,
But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless sea
Turns again home.
Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;
For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crost the bar.
– Alfred, Lord Tennyson
AFTERGLOW
I’d like the memory of me
to be a happy one
I’d like to leave an afterglow
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 behind when day is done.
– Helen Lowrie Marshall
I AM STILL WITH YOU
If it seems that I am far away
on this empty and solemn day.
Just open your heart and know it’s true
that I am still right here with you.
If during the day things are going wrong
please don’t feel sad and alone.
Just open your heart and know it’s true
that I am still right here with you.
When night time falls and the day is done
If you are feeling alone and sleep won’t come
Just open your heart and know it’s true
that I am still right here with you.
Close your eyes, and feel the warm embrace
Sleep peacefully in the wings of grace
If sadness finds you in the morning light
if you feel alone, don’t give up trying
Hold this feather close and know it’s true
that I am always here with you.
– Julie Johnson, Wings of Grace
DEAR FRIENDS I GO
Dear friends I go, but do not weep
I’ve lived my life, so full and deep
Throughout my life, I gave my best
I earned my keep, I’ve earned my rest
I never tried to be great or grand
I tried to be a helping hand.
If I helped in a team, if I helped on my own
It was more than repaid by
good family and friends I have known.
And if I went the extra mile, I did it with pleasure
It was all worthwhile
If I brightened your path, then let it be
A small contribution from my loved ones and me,
Now sadly I leave you and travel alone
Through a mystic veil to the great unknown.
With such beautiful memories
That will forever be the way that I hope
You’ll remember me.
– Author Unknown
LIFE WELL LIVED
A life well lived is a precious gift,
of hope and strength and grace,
from someone who has made our world
a brighter, better place.
It’s filled with moments,
sweet and sad with smiles and sometimes tears,
with friendships formed and good times shared,
and laughter through the years.
A life well lived is a legacy,
of joy and pride and pleasure,
a living, lasting memory
our grateful heart’s will treasure.
– 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 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 at heart
Go to the friends we know,
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds.
Miss me, but let me go.
– Edgar Albert Guest
SOMEONE SO DEARLY LOVED
Someone so dearly loved
So popular with his friends
we should not cry forever
for this is not the end.
His memory lives amongst us
Times we both laughed and cried
I cannot bare to lose him
But one day, we all must die.
I hear his voice within me
and his funny little laugh
So many things remind me
Of times that are now gone past.
I knew of no-one who hated him
He was the apple of every eye
Any conflicts, we all once had
are now by the by.
– Jacqueline Ryan
TAKE TIME
Take time to gaze at a sunset sky
Where colours blaze to dazzle the eye.
Take time to watch a moonlit sea
And look in awe at a towering tree.
Take time to look in the heart of a flower
Adorned with diamonds from a gentle shower.
Take time to view a mountain high
With snowy peak ‘gainst bluest sky.
Take time to listen to the song of birds –
A paean of joy without need of words.
Take time to tell your closest friend
Your love and loyalty will never end.
Take time to stop and stand and stare
At wonders round you everywhere.
Take time to make time –
For all too soon there is no more time
– Author Unknown
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 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
– Helen Steiner Rice
A LIMB HAS FALLEN
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 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, now I truly was blessed.
Continue traditions, no matter how small,
Go on with your life, don’t just stare at the wall.
I miss you all dearly, so keep up your chin,
Until the day comes we’re together again.
– Author Unknown
ONE 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 life goes on without me now,
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
Those of you who liked me,
I sincerely thank you all
And those of you who loved 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