Then Almitra spoke, saying, “We would ask now of Death.”
And he said: “You would know the secret of death.
But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?
The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light.
If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.
For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.
In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;
And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring.
Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.
Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honor.
Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king?
Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?
For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?
Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.
Funeral Poems & Readings
On Death
A funeral poem for comfort during unsettling times
Print
On Death
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Email
Print
Funeral Shop
Keeping the memory alive. See our high-quality range of funeral products and jewellery including urns, ash pendants, keepsakes, candle holders, bracelets, rings and more.
More Funeral Poems
Don’t Cry For Me Today
Don’t cry for me today, I wouldn’t want it this way. Be strong and smile, for you will see me in a while. I know ...
Read Full Poem →
Celebrate
Weep not for me though I am gone Into that gentle night Grieve if you will, but not for long Upon my soul’s sweet flight ...
Read Full Poem →
For My Brother
You left without Warning. Gone so fast. Now all we have Are memories Of our past. You are loved by so many. You might not ...
Read Full Poem →
In Our Hearts
We thought of you with love today, But that is nothing new. We thought about you yesterday And days before that, too. We think of ...
Read Full Poem →
I Miss You, Grandma
I think about you all the time, And every day it hurts to cry. So much has happened in my life. I’m not sure how ...
Read Full Poem →
An Angel Brushed My Shoulder
An angel at my shoulder heard The whisper of goodbye Offering eternity as life slipped silent by So peacefilly it seemed in sleep You yielded ...
Read Full Poem →
Little Gidding (from Four Quartets)
We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for ...
Read Full Poem →
Memories
Life can never stay the same No matter how we try Our hands can never stop The clock of life from ticking by But love ...
Read Full Poem →
My Journey’s Just Begun
Don’t think of me as gone away My journey’s just begun Life holds so many facets This earth is but one Just think of me ...
Read Full Poem →
A Call From Heaven
I lie awake long into the night, Hoping that maybe you just might Give me a call to say you’re okay And let me know ...
Read Full Poem →
Don’t Be Sad When I Die
When tomorrow starts without me, and I’m not there to comfort you, please know that I still love you, ’cause I know you love me ...
Read Full Poem →
The Strength You Gave Me
They tell me it’s amazing how I’ve stayed so strong, but they don’t see how I cry when I hear your song. They see the ...
Read Full Poem →
When I’m Gone
When I come to the end of my journey And I travel my last weary mile Just forget if you can, that I ever frowned ...
Read Full Poem →
If I Should Go
If I should go before the rest of you Break not a flower nor inscribe a stone Nor when I’m gone speak in a Sunday ...
Read Full Poem →
The Lord’s my Shepherd – Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. ...
Read Full Poem →