21+ Funeral Poems for Dad

It seems to me the day you left
The sun forgot to shine
Because it feels as though the lights gone out
Within this heart of mine

My body feels so broken
Because we had to say goodbye
And my tears they flow like raindrops
Every time I cry

The pain that I am feeling
Is like a storm inside my heart
And it only grows much stronger
Everyday that we’re apart

It’s hard to see the future
And to make it through the day
But I know you will be with me
And will help to light the way

When the light goes out for me
I know what I shall do
I’ll close my eyes one final time
And I will be with you

Author – Unknown

My Hero
You held my hand when I was small
You caught me when I fell
You are the hero of my childhood

And my later years as well
And every time I think of you
My heart still fills with pride
Though I will always miss you Dad

I know you’re by my side
In laughter and in sorrow
In sunshine and in rain
I know you’re watching over me

Until we meet again.

Unknown Author

I cannot say, and I will not say
That he is dead- . He is just away!

With a cheery smile, and a wave of the hand
He has wandered into an unknown land,

And left us dreaming how very fair
It needs must be, since he lingers there.

And you- O you, who the wildest yearn
For the old-time step and the glad return- ,

Think of him faring on, as dear
In the love of There as the love of Here;

And loyal still, as he gave the blows
Of his warrior-strength to his country’s foes- .

Mild and gentle, as he was brave- ,
When the sweetest love of his life he gave

To simple things- : Where the violets grew
Blue as the eyes they were likened to,

The touches of his hands have strayed
As reverently as his lips have prayed:

When the little brown thrush that harshly chirred
Was dear to him as the mocking-bird;

And he pitied as much as a man in pain
A writhing honey-bee wet with rain- .

Think of him still as the same, I say:
He is not dead- he is just away!

Author – James Whitcomb Riley

He wasn’t a hero
Known by the world,
But a hero he was
To his little girl.

My daddy was a god
Who knew all things.
And better than Santa,
With the gifts he’d bring.

I knew his voice
Before I could speak
And loved it when
He would sing me to sleep.

He changed my diapers
And sat up all night
When my body was weak
And I’d put up a fight.

He’d come home late
With not much to say
And made us all kneel
As he taught me to pray.

He taught me life’s lessons
Of right from wrong
And instilled in me values
That I might be strong.

And so through the years,
Like a hero he stood.
Working to give
All that he could.

His presence was important,
And we loved to see him smile,
For no one in the world
Could emulate his style.

And so, dear Dad,
My best memory to recall
Is the gift of your presence,
The greatest gift of all.

Author – Rebecca D. Cook

Dad, I am often told I am just like you.
I am honored beyond measure if that is true.
You were the best example of what a man should be.
I am overwhelmed that someone would say that of me.

I never told you enough, how proud I am to be called your son,
Now that you are gone, I want to tell everyone.
You gave me much more than a name,
Someday, I hope my son says the same.

Author – J. Allen Shaw

Our Father kept a garden.
A garden of the heart;
He planted all the good things,
That gave our lives their start.

He turned us to the sunshine,
And encouraged us to dream:
Fostering and nurturing
The seeds of self-esteem.

And when the winds and rain came,
He protected us enough;
But not too much because he knew
We would stand up strong and tough.

His constant good example,
Always taught us right from wrong;
Markers for our pathway that will last
a lifetime long.

We are our Fathers garden,
We are his legacy.
Thank you Dad we love you.

Author – Unknown

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 deep
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.

Author – Alfred Tennyson

You can shed tears that he is gone,
Or you can smile because he lived,
You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him
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 him and only that he is gone
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on,
You can cry and close your mind be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do what he would want:

Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

Author – David Harkins

Who has lived well,
laughed often and loved much;

Who has gained the respect
of intelligent men and the love of children;

Who has filled his niche
and accomplished his task;

Who leaves the world better than he found it,
whether by an improved poppy or a perfect poem or a rescued soul;

Who never lacked appreciation of earth’s beauty
or failed to express it;

Who looked for the best in others
and gave the best he had.

Author – Robert Louis Stevenson

A light is from our household gone,
A voice we loved is stilled,
A place is vacant in our home,
Which never can be filled.

God gave us a beautiful father,
A father who never grew old,
You were always there
With a helping hand,

Help us now to accept His plan.
We miss you now, our hearts are sore,
As time goes by, we miss you more.
Your loving smile, your gentle face,

No one can take our “Father’s Place”
May the choirs of the angels receive you
and may you have rest
and peace everlasting. Amen.

Author – Unknown

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,

The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle’s flight,

The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,

Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it … Dad

Author – Unknown

I know that no matter what
You will always be with me.
When life separates us
I’ll know it is only your soul

Saying goodbye to your body,
But your spirit will be with me always.
When I see a bird chirping on a nearby branch,
I will know it is you singing to me.

When a butterfly brushes gently by me so freely
I will know it is you assuring me you are free from pain.
When the gentle fragrance of a flower catches my attention,
I will know it is you reminding me

To appreciate the simple things in life.
When the sun shining through my window awakens me,
I will feel the warmth of your love.
When I hear the rain pitter patter against my windowsill

I will hear your words of wisdom
And will remember what you taught me so well
That without rain, trees cannot grow.
Without rain, flowers cannot bloom.

Without life’s challenges, I cannot grow strong.
When I look out to the sea,
I will think of your endless love for your family.
When I think of mountains, their majesty and magnificence,
I will think of your courage for your country.

No matter where I am,
Your spirit will be beside me,
For I know that no matter what,
You will always be with me.

Author – Tram-Tiara T. Von Reichenbach

Not, how did he die, but how did he live?
Not, what did he gain , but what did he give?

These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man as a man , regardless of birth.

Not what was his church, nor what was his creed?
But had he befriended those really in need?

Was he ever ready, with word of good cheer,
To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?

Not what did the sketch in the newspaper say,
But how many were sorry when he passed away?

These are the things that measure the worth
Of a man as a man, regardless of birth.

Author – Summer Sandercox

Under the wide and starry sky,
Dig the grave and let me lie.
Glad did I live and gladly die,
And I laid me down with a will.

This be the verse you grave for me:
Here he lies where he longed to be;
Home is the sailor, home from sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.

Author – Robert Louis Stevenson

Only a dad, with a tired face,
Coming home from the daily race,
Bringing little of gold or fame,
To show how well he has played the game,
But glad in his heart that his own rejoice
To see him come, and to hear his voice.

Only a dad, with a brood of four,
One of ten million men or more.
Plodding along in the daily strife,
Bearing the whips and the scorns of life,
With never a whimper of pain or hate,
For the sake of those who at home await.

Only a dad, neither rich nor proud,
Merely one of the surging crowd
Toiling, striving from day to day,
Facing whatever may come his way,
Silent, whenever the harsh condemn,
And bearing it all for the love of them.

Only a dad, but he gives his all
To smooth the way for his children small,
Doing, with courage stern and grim,
The deeds that his father did for him.
This is the line that for him I pen,
Only a dad, but the best of men.

Author – Edgar Albert Guest

“A giant pine, magnificent and old
Stood staunch against the sky and all around
Shed beauty, grace and power.

Within its fold birds safely reared their young.
The velvet ground beneath was gentle,
and the cooling shade gave cheer to passers-by.
Its towering arms a landmark stood, erect and unafraid,
As if to say, “Fear naught life’s alarms”.

It fell one day.
Where it had dauntless stood was loneliness and void.
But men who passed paid tribute – and said,
“To know this life was good,
It left its mark on me. Its work stands fast”.

And so it lives. Such life no bonds can hold –
This giant pine, magnificent and old.”

Author – Georgia Harkness

As we look back over time
We find ourselves wondering. . .
Did we remember to thank you enough
For all you have done for us?

For all the times you were by our sides
To help and support us,
To celebrate our successes,
To understand our problems,
And accept our defeats?

Or for teaching us by your example,
The value of hard work, good judgment,
Courage and integrity?

We wonder if we ever thanked you
For the sacrifices you made
To let us have the very best?

And for the simple things
Like laughter, smiles and times we shared?

If we have forgotten to show our
Gratitude enough for all the things you did,
We’re thanking you now.
And we are hoping you knew all along,
How much you meant to us.

Author – Unknown

Don’t think of him as gone away,
his journey’s just begun,

Life holds so many facets,
this earth is only one,

Just think of him as resting,
from the sorrows and the tears,

In a place of warmth and comfort,
where there are no days or years,

Think how he must be wishing,
that we could know today,

How nothing but our sadness,
can really pass away,

And think of him as living,
in the hearts of those he touched,

For nothing loved is ever lost,
and he was loved so much.

–Anonymous

If I should go tomorrow
It would never be goodbye,
For I have left my heart with you,
So don’t you ever cry.

The love that’s deep within me,
Shall reach you from the stars,
You’ll feel it from the heavens,
And it will heal the scars.

When selecting your Dad’s funeral poem, consider the following purposes:

Expression of Grief and Emotions: Poems can help people express their grief and emotions in a way that is often difficult to do in words. They can help people to feel less alone and to find comfort in the shared experience of loss.

Honor and Remember: A funeral poem can be a way to remember your Father and all he meant to you and others. It can be a way to celebrate his life and to keep his memory alive.

Connection and Comfort: Sharing a poem at your Father’s funeral can comfort and support grieving people. It can help people feel connected to the deceased and each other.

Healing Platform: Reading a poem can help you process your feelings, express your grief, and say goodbye in a structured and supported way.

Reflection of Your Father: The poem can show your Dad’s traits, likes, or principles. It could be a poem he enjoyed that makes you think of him or represents parts of his life, beliefs, or personality.