Poems with Personality: 3 Beautiful Readings for a Heartfelt Farewell

Beautiful words to celebrate, remember and reflect on a loved one’s life

Poems with personality can bring a special layer of meaning to a funeral or memorial. They offer words when our own may be hard to find, adding a peaceful, calming, and clear acknowledgement of a loved one’s life. Whether read by a family member, friend, or celebrant, a well-chosen poem can bring comfort, spark memories, and gently hold space for both grief and gratitude.

Here are three of many poems that can add warmth and beauty to a ceremony:

1. For a Mum Who Loved and Cared Deeply
She gave with hands gentle, heart open wide—
Gathering us close in each storm and each tide.
Her laughter was sunlight, her wisdom a balm,
Love woven through moments, a sheltering calm.

For family, for friends, for those lost or alone,
Her kindness took root, quietly sown.
She leaves us remembrance: the warmth of her grace—
A legacy cherished, no time can erase.

Her memory lingers in soft, everyday things—
The comfort she brought, the joy that she brings.
We carry her light as we journey ahead—
Grateful and loving, by her spirit we're led.

2. For a Grandfather Who Loved the Sea
He spoke in the language of waves and salt air,
With stories that drifted as far as he'd dare.
Sunrise and seabirds, horizons grown wide;
The ocean his companion, his comfort, his guide.

We picture him sailing where surf meets the blue,
Steady and fearless, his spirit renewed.
Forever he'll wander the wild, rolling foam—
At peace on the water, forever at home.

3. For a Son Who Lived Life to the Full
He danced through each day with unstoppable zest,
Restless for adventure, for joy, for the test.
Bright flames often flicker, burn bold, fade fast—
He embraced every moment, both present and past.

Though choices were tangled and paths sometimes crossed,
He lived as he loved: no dream ever lost.
Now memories shimmer, undaunted, alive—
His spirit, his laughter, will always survive.



If you would like help weaving these poems into a ceremony that truly reflects your loved one, I’d be honoured to guide you through the process. Words, chosen with care, have the power to comfort, connect, and celebrate a life well lived.