When planning a funeral or celebration of life, the pressure to find the ‘perfect’ words can feel overwhelming. For those organising a non-religious or humanist service, poetry often steps in to fill the silence, providing comfort, reflection, and a beautiful way to honour a unique life.
Unlike religious texts, secular funeral poetry focuses on the human experience—the love shared, the lessons learned, and the natural cycle of life and death. Whether you are looking for something uplifting, poignant, or short and sweet, here are 20 inspiring verses for a non-religious service.
You can read the full text for every poem featured in this list by visiting The Library of Secular Verses.
Traditional Favourites
- 1. Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep – Mary Elizabeth Frye: A timeless piece focusing on the presence of a loved one in the natural world.
- 2. Remember Me – Christina Rossetti: A classic choice that grants loved ones permission to find happiness even in their grief.
- 3. Funeral Blues – W.H. Auden: An honest, raw portrayal of the weight of loss.
- 4. All is Well – Henry Scott-Holland: Often known as 'Death is Nothing at All', suggesting a continued, invisible presence.
- 5. She Is Gone (You Can Shed Tears) – David Harkins: A popular modern choice that encourages us to celebrate a life lived.
Nature and the Cycle of Life
- 6. Wild Geese – Mary Oliver: A beautiful reflection on our place in the world and the continuity of nature.
- 7. Turn Again to Life – Mary Lee Hall: A plea for the living to complete the unfinished tasks of those they have lost.
- 8. The Ship – Bishop Brent: A moving metaphor for the transition of death, viewed from two different shores.
- 9. Immortality – Clare Harner: Reminding us that a spirit remains in the wind, the stars, and the sunlight.
- 10. A Farewell – Anne Brontë: A gentle reminder that a soul’s influence remains long after they are gone.
Short and Poignant Verses
- 11. The Life That I Have – Leo Marks: A short, powerful poem written during the war about the endurance of love.
- 12. Epitaph on a Friend – Robert Burns: A brief and deeply respectful tribute to a person of true character.
- 13. Requiem – Robert Louis Stevenson: A perfect tribute for someone who felt most at home in the great outdoors.
- 14. Afterglow – Unknown: A wish for memories to be filled with sunshine and smiles rather than shadows.
- 15. His/Her Journey’s Just Begun – Ellen Brenneman: Comforting words suggesting that this life is only one of many facets.
Reflective and Modern
- 16. Life Goes On – Joyce Grenfell: A sincere and light-hearted request for loved ones to carry on as they always did.
- 17. Not, How Did He Die, But How Did He Live? – Unknown: A poem focusing on the legacy of a person’s character.
- 18. To My Loved Ones – Unknown: A message of gratitude for a life shared, written from the perspective of the deceased.
- 19. Success – Bessie Anderson Stanley: Defines a successful life as one that has laughed often and loved much.
- 20. Let Me Go – Christina Rossetti: A poem of acceptance, asking for peace and for loved ones to move forward with love.
Honouring Your Loved One
Choosing a poem is a deeply personal task. There is no right or wrong choice; the best poem is the one that captures the spirit of the person you are celebrating.
If you would like to read these poems in their entirety to help you decide, you can find the full collection of verses here.
If you are currently preparing to say goodbye and would like to place a notice or a tribute to your loved one to share details of their service or celebrate their memory, you can place a notice here.
