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Written by Emily Cross.
22 minute read
Paying tribute to your mum may feel like it is one of the most emotionally difficult things you have ever had to do, and this is perfectly understandable. For many of us, the woman who brought us into the world and raised us has a unique place in our lives, and we want to pay tribute to her in a way that feels right. Many people find it challenging to express exactly how they feel or what they want to say to her — not for lack of feeling, but because the words often fall short of the love they carry.
The sometimes complex nature of grief means that what feels natural for someone else may not feel quite right for you. There is nothing wrong with admitting this, and it serves to show just how complex the healing journey you are on is. As providers of direct cremation services, we regularly speak to families and loved ones who have decided that a formal service is not right for them. That said, many choose to mark the death in the family in a more personal, intimate way later on, and reading poetry is often a major part of that.
In this guide, we’ve put together the many different approaches we have heard over the years, with the hope of being able to help in some small way. Please don’t feel that this guide is anything more than a few words of support and some suggestions. You don’t, by any means, have to feel that you need to choose from this set list of funeral poems.
We hope it helps and want you to know that we are always here for you.
Key takeaways:
One of the most prominent of all the British funeral traditions is the reading. Some people find that they want to read a eulogy they have written themselves, whereas others find great comfort and support in the words of others. There is beauty in how poetry expresses feelings in a way that is gentle, artistic, and leaves room for reflection and this is something that families often feel a connection with.
Selecting a meaningful, heartfelt poem that reflects your mum’s legacy may feel overwhelming, and this is normal. You want everything to feel perfect on the day, so that you can pay a tribute in a way that you all feel comfortable with. Being kind to yourself if you find that it takes time to find the right poem is really important here. It may help to consider a few different types of poems:
The choice of poem may also be influenced by who might read the poem. A child, a close friend, or an officiant are all common choices here, and the choice is one that you have the right to make in your own way and at your own speed. Asking the reader for input on what to read and what will speak to the memory of your mum may also help you feel more connected with the process.
Giving a little thought to the nature of the service is something that may help to shape which direction you take. For example, if you are already considering some of these end-of-life celebration ideas, a rhyming poem that is warm and slightly more upbeat may be preferred to a slower-paced piece that is more solemn and reflective.
Attempting to match the mood of the service to the choice of poem may not always feel easy, but it is something that may make a real difference to the impact you are able to deliver. You may also find it helps to consider the more technical aspects of any given poem:
Taking a moment to pause and reflect might lead you to poems for your mum’s funeral that you hadn’t considered before. If it feels right, seeing this as part of your healing may bring comfort , and even open the door to personal growth as life moves forward.
The poem you choose may depend on who’s reading it. A child might prefer something emotional and reflective, while a close friend may choose something warm or celebratory. There’s no right or wrong, only what feels right for you.
If your mum had a prepaid funeral plan, she may have left guidance on who she wanted to read and what they should share. That can offer peace of mind, knowing her wishes are being honoured.
You might also think about how the reader’s relationship with her suits the tone of the poem. A light, rhyming verse might help a friend express the joy they shared, giving others a glimpse into a part of her life they may not have seen.
There are so many funeral poems that it is understandable if you find the amount of choice a little overwhelming. We find that it often helps to present a brief shortlist of suggestions. You don’t have to feel pressure to choose from this list, but it may help you begin your search in a more accessible way:
Looking for readings that celebrate life and legacy can also support your healing. Even those you don’t read aloud might offer comfort or a new perspective to return to in the weeks ahead. Quietly reflecting on them and keeping them close may bring a sense of peace when you need it most.
There are religious and non-religious funeral poems, classic and modern poems. Each approach has its own merits, and you may want to explore multiple avenues before finding a verse or reading that you feel is fitting. If you are unsure about where to begin, here are some classic pieces that many people feel a deep sense of connection with:
Each of these excerpts is marked by emotionally resonant and dignified language. You may feel that they are best suited to solemn, spiritual, or traditional services. The understated and slightly reserved nature of the words means that they are more traditional than they are contemporary and celebratory. If this is how you find you naturally grieve and process the death of someone you love, you may derive comfort from this approach.
A more modern approach is to explore the many friendship funeral poems and ask one of your mother’s companions to deliver the reading. If you feel that this is a path you wish to explore, you may choose to sit and reflect on the following pieces when the time feels right:
These poems often reflect on everyday memories or familiar traits, helping you feel your mum’s presence on the day. They tend to focus more on the woman herself, unlike traditional poems which usually speak to carrying grief and moving forward with dignity. Because of their personal tone, these friendship-based poems are often chosen for non-religious services, or those that aim to celebrate a life rather than mourn a death.
There are many different ways you can pay tribute to your mother through the emotional power of poetry. Below, you will find a small curated collection that we hope will help you to find something that resonates with who your mother was and what she continues to mean to you.
If you’re looking for inspiration, reading through funeral tribute examples — like the poems below — may help spark ideas or give you words for emotions that are hard to express. Whether you choose one to read at the service or simply keep it close as a personal reflection, these verses can offer comfort and connection.
You may find it helpful to consider some of the many beautiful grief poems for healing at this point. To help, we have selected a small number below for your consideration:
Till roses lose their petals,
Till the heather has lost its dew,
Till the end of time, dear Mother,
We will remember you.
They say memories are golden,
Well, maybe that is true,
But we never wanted memories,
We only wanted you.
There is also:
Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure,
You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.
No farewell words were spoken, no time to say goodbye,
You were gone before we knew it, and only God knows why.
Gone yet not forgotten, although we are apart,
Your spirit lives within us, forever in our heart.
You may notice that these pieces are very moving, but marked by their simplicity. They are characterised by deep emotional strength and a gentle progression that gives you the time and space you need to sit with the words. Short poems like these are often printed on the order of service so that your fellow mourners can sit with the words and reflect on them when the time feels right.
If your mother or the wider family is religious, traditional faith-based pieces may be deemed most appropriate. Even if you yourself are not religious, you may find comfort in the fact that your mum believed in something that gave her a sense of faith, support, and meaning during the course of her life. Here are some suggestions you may wish to consider when you feel ready:
While these poems can be read anywhere, you may find they fit most naturally into church funerals and spiritual services with strong elements of tradition. The timeless themes of comfort and eternal love after life on earth are things that many of us can find great comfort in.
There are many who find they are at a loss when it comes to knowing what to say when someone loses a parent, and this often includes the children themselves. If you find yourself unable to connect and resonate with any of the broad themes we have suggested, please be kind to yourself. This is not a sign that you are failing to connect with your mum’s memory or that her funeral service won’t have the touching reflections you feel it deserves.
In our experience, there are many people who feel like this every single day, but there is also another path forward you may wish to consider. If you feel able to write a poem with your own words, it may be the best way you can find to honour your mum. Here are a few starting points that may prove helpful:
Writing something that is heartfelt and meaningful may feel like a lot of pressure, but it’s also a chance to reflect and heal. No one is expecting literary perfection here, and trying to achieve it could put too much pressure on you at what is already a difficult time. Giving yourself the space and distance needed to express yourself by sitting with your feelings is really important. For this reason, you may find that starting with a free verse structure helps a lot. It will remove all of the technical constraints around rhyming patterns and sentence structures.
If you take comfort in reading some of the many poems about death, you may see that there are numerous structures and formats to explore. Deciding which one to start with is something that may overwhelm you, but attempting to simplify your approach in the following way may help:
Beginning with a tone that is sincere, calm, and reflective could help you sit with your thoughts and find a way to bring them to life with words. The creative process is something that may move forward at times and backward at others, and there is nothing wrong with admitting this. Being compassionate with yourself is important and can help you to pace your efforts in a way you feel is emotionally sustainable.
Thinking about how you might feel comfortable reflecting on legacy and connection is an approach that you may find helpful. Your mother brought you into this world, and you may feel she occupies a unique place in your life. Talking about her as if she is still with you, guiding you and supporting you in moments when you need her, can help share her legacy with your fellow mourners. This is a deeply personal act, and not one you should feel rushed into, but thinking about it at your own pace may help you to come to terms with her death.
You may be unsure about where and when to incorporate a poem in the ceremony, but there are some general conventions that could make things easier. Because the eulogy is often the longest and most central reading, many families choose to use the poems immediately before or after. Some also opt for gentle, reflective music to be played alongside the poem to add to the emotional weight that it conveys.
In our experience, a reading that is delivered towards the end of the service can provide quiet comfort. By reading it later in the service, you make it more likely that it will stick in the minds of your fellow mourners as they move on to the next part of the day. This is particularly true of poems with memorable rhyming structure or final lines with a large amount of emotional resonance.
Selecting a speaker is an important part of preparing for the service, but it can be easy to overlook or put off. A family member, a celebrant, or a friend are all common choices—especially if you and your siblings feel you’d rather listen than deliver the reading yourselves.
As well as the nature of your relationship with your mother, you may want to consider the personality and character of the person you choose. Someone who is confident and emotionally strong may find it less intimidating and upsetting to speak on the day. Pauses and tears are perfectly natural, but someone with greater confidence may feel less anxious when they’re waiting to speak.
Some families prefer to have multiple readers or share verses. This can help you feel more supported and make the experience a little easier.
If you choose to read the poem yourself but feel emotional or uncertain, you might worry you’ve made the wrong decision. These feelings of self-doubt are completely understandable, but a few small changes in how you think can really help:
Taking a moment to compose yourself before you start may also help. Three deep, calm breaths can steady you and bring you back to the present, so you can focus on what matters most.
Reading your selection aloud beforehand can help you get used to the rhythm of the poem and feel more comfortable with any unfamiliar words or phrases. It also helps to print the poem clearly, with enough spacing to make it easier to follow.
Even if you’ve practised, it’s perfectly okay to pause or show emotion when reading. Take your time and move through each line in a way that feels right for you.
Some families find comfort in having soft background music during the reading. Starting the music as you walk to the front of the room can help you feel connected to the moment and a little more at ease.
Once you’re in position, pausing briefly can help settle the room and draw people’s attention. If you feel comfortable, making eye contact with a few close friends or siblings can give you a sense of support as you read.
Poems can bring peace, healing, and a deep sense of remembrance. They can be shared at the funeral, revisited in the days and weeks after, and even included in a memorial or death anniversary of a parent in the future.
Even if you’ve never read poetry before, you might find it helps honour your mother’s life and soothe your grief in a unique way. The timeless nature of many poems can make them feel like a lasting connection, almost as if a part of your mother lives on through the words.
Taking your time to choose something meaningful can become a powerful part of your healing.
We hope that we have helped provide support and compassion in some small way. Many think that a funeral provider is focused purely on the practical matters, such as when you need to compare funeral plans, but we believe in going so much further. We are real people just like you, and we have relationships, losses, memories, and times when we need to grieve, too. We hope that combining our human side with the things we have seen and experienced in our role has helped you today.
We also want you to know that you are under no pressure whatsoever to pick from the list of poems we have shared with you today. They are only starting points that we feel may serve as sparks of inspiration should you need them. Being kind to yourself and making yourself aware that this is a choice that may not be made the first time you sit and think of it is so important. If we can help in any way, we are always right here when you need us.
Yes, writing a poem in your own words is something that you may feel helps you to express how you feel and what you are experiencing. Taking your time to put your thoughts, feelings, and ideas down on paper will ensure that you don’t put too much pressure on yourself. You are not trying to achieve literary perfection here. The process is simply one of reflecting on how you feel and then sharing it with your fellow mourners.
Traditional religious funerals will tend to gravitate more towards older poems of a spiritual nature. They tend to be marked by reflective tones and a little more of a conservative approach to expressing personal emotion than some of the more contemporary poems you may have read. Families who opt for a secular service or prefer to focus on celebrating a life rather than mourning a death may opt for something more free or that rhymes to add warmth.
You may find that it helps to talk to her as if she were watching you and listening to what you have to say from the back of the room. These types of personal conversations can add real meaning and emotion to your reading and also give you the time and space you need to reflect on what your mum means to you.
Yes, there are many powerful mum funeral poems that are only a few lines long. We have shared some of them above and hope that they prove a helpful starting point for your search. Taking your time to sit with each one could help you to discover whether you resonate emotionally with them.
Yes, even if you are not particularly religious, you have every right to use one of these more traditional poems. Your mother may have also expressed a wish that you do so, in which case you may feel that you have to honour her memory as she wished, regardless of your personal belief system.
“Her Journey’s Just Begun” is all about the peaceful transition that occurs after death and is a piece that many families find very comforting at this difficult time. There is also “Weep Not For Me,” which is more focused on the continuation of your own life and how your mum would have wished for you to keep on living. She brought you into the world and devoted her life to making sure that you had everything you needed to flourish and grow in your own way.
“Her Journey’s Just Begun” talks about how your mum is moving to the next stage of her existence in a way that makes you feel like she is still with you. There is also “Gone From Us,” a poem that talks about how every mother becomes known for the kind deeds and lasting impact she has had on the lives of others. If she is someone whom you often looked to for guidance and support, this could be a fitting approach to take.