When someone we love dies, it can be incredibly hard to put our feelings into words. That’s why many of us turn to poetry, especially during a funeral or celebration of life. A well-chosen verse can express what we’re feeling, offer comfort, and help us say goodbye.
As more people choose humanist or non-religious funerals, non-religious funeral poems are becoming a popular way to honour a life in a personal, heartfelt way. These poems often focus on love, memory, nature or the cycle of life, without referencing a specific faith or religious belief.
Whether you're planning a ceremony for someone special or thinking ahead to how you'd like to be remembered, we’ve put together a selection of non-religious funeral poems that might help.
For more personalised ideas, you might also like our collections of funeral poems for Mum, funeral poems for Dad, or 100 funeral songs to suit any taste.
We also have a free guide which has even more songs, poems and other ideas on how to personalise a funeral service or celebration of life.
1. ‘Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep’ by Clare Harner
“I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow…”
A popular choice for both religious and secular funerals, this gentle poem reminds us that someone we love doesn’t just disappear. Their presence is felt in nature, in beauty, and in memory.
2. ‘Turn Again to Life’ by Mary Lee Hall
“For my sake, turn again to life, and smile…”
This short but powerful verse encourages those left behind to keep going—to honour the person who’s died by continuing to live with hope and courage.
3. ‘When Death Comes’ by Mary Oliver
“When it’s over, I want to say all my life
I was a bride married to amazement…”
Mary Oliver’s writing often explores the beauty of everyday life, and this poem is no exception. It’s about meeting death with wonder, not fear—making it a hopeful reading for a celebration of life.
4. ‘Requiem’ by Robert Louis Stevenson
“Home is the sailor, home from sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.”
These closing lines from Stevenson’s poem reflect a sense of peace and completion. It’s particularly fitting for someone who lived with strength and independence.
5. ‘Farewell’ by Anne Brontë
“Farewell to Thee! But not farewell
To all my fondest thoughts of Thee;
Within my heart they still shall dwell…”
This gentle and dignified poem is a beautiful way to honour someone who gave so much during their life. It offers comfort in the idea that love and good deeds live on.
6. ‘Funeral Blues’ by W. H. Auden
“He was my North, my South, my East and West…”
This powerful and poignant poem captures the rawness of grief. It’s a moving choice for anyone who has lost a partner, soulmate or someone central to their life.
7. ‘She Is Gone’ by David Harkins
“You can shed tears that she is gone
Or you can smile because she has lived…”
One of the most popular non-religious poems for a funeral, this reading encourages people to focus on the joy someone brought rather than the pain of their loss. It’s often chosen to remember mothers, grandmothers, and other cherished women.
8. ‘Remember Me’ by Margaret Mead
“Remember me in your heart, your thoughts, your memories…”
These lines remind us that our loved ones continue to live on in the stories we share and the lives they touched. It’s simple, heartfelt, and reassuring.
9. ‘One at Rest’ by Anonymous
“Think of me as one at rest,
For me, you should not weep…”
This poem is a gentle reminder that the person we’ve lost is now at peace. It’s a calming, reflective reading that suits many types of services.
10. ‘Not How Did He Die’ by Summer Sandercox
“Not how did he die, but how did he live?
Not what did he gain, but what did he give?”
A short, striking poem that invites people to focus not on the end of a life, but the meaning it held. It’s often chosen to honour someone who gave generously of their time, love or kindness.
11. ‘Afterglow’ by Helen Lowrie Marshall
“I’d like the memory of me
To be a happy one…”
This simple verse expresses a wish that those left behind remember the joy someone brought to their lives. It’s an uplifting message that can offer comfort, even in the saddest moments.
12. ‘Let Me Go’ by Christina Rossetti
“When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me…”
Rossetti’s words offer quiet acceptance and peace. This poem gently encourages mourners to release their sorrow and remember their loved one with warmth and grace.
13. ‘If I Should Go’ by Joyce Grenfell
“If I should go before the rest of you
Break not a flower nor inscribe a stone…”
Written with a light touch, this poem asks for a joyful remembrance rather than solemn mourning. It’s a popular choice for someone who didn’t want a fussy or overly formal funeral.
14. ‘To Those Whom I Love and Those Who Love Me’ by Anonymous
“Grieve for me for a while, if grieve you must,
Then let your grief be comforted by trust…”
Often read at humanist ceremonies, this poem is calming and reassuring, with a quiet confidence that love will carry on.
15. ‘Holy Willie’s Prayer’ by Robert Burns
“O Thou, that in the heavens does dwell,
As it pleases best Thysel’,
Sends ane to Heaven an’ ten to Hell…”
Written in Scots and full of biting satire, this poem reflects Burns’ criticism of religious hypocrisy. It won’t suit every funeral, but for someone with a sharp sense of humour and a love of literature, it could be a fitting tribute.
16. ‘Prospice’ by Robert Browning
“Fear death?—to feel the fog in my throat,
The mist in my face,
When the snows begin, and the blasts denote
I am nearing the place…”
This poem is a powerful choice for someone remembered for their strength and spirit, and for families who find comfort in the idea of reunion and peace.
Choosing the right poem for a funeral or celebration of life is deeply personal. Whether you're drawn to something moving, uplifting, or reflective, what matters most is that it feels right for you and the person you’re remembering.
