End of Life Concerns Grief & Bereavement Inspiring Poems About Death, Grief, and Loss By Angela Morrow, RN linkedin Angela Morrow, RN, BSN, CHPN, is a certified hospice and palliative care nurse. Learn about our editorial process Angela Morrow, RN Fact checked by Fact checked by Ashley Hall on February 23, 2020 linkedin Ashley Hall is a writer and fact checker who has been published in multiple medical journals in the field of surgery. Learn about our editorial process Ashley Hall Updated on February 23, 2020 Print While words can never fully express how much someone means to us, language can still provide comfort, solace, hope, and even inspiration following the death of a loved one. Here, you will find a select collection of comforting, inspirational poems about death, grief, and loss. Westend61 / Getty Images You might also find these verses helpful when writing a eulogy or condolence letter, particularly if you're having trouble finding the right words and need inspiration. 20 Insightful, Moving Quotes About Grief and Loss Mary Hall, American attorney, 1843-1927 Turn Again to Life "If I should die, and leave you here a while,Be not like others sore undone,who keep long vigils by the silent dust and weep.For my sake, turn again to life, and smile,Nerving thy heart, and trembling hand to doSomething to comfort weaker hearts than thine,Complete these dear unfinished tasks of mine,And I, perchance, may therein comfort you!" Emily Dickinson, American poet, 1830-1886 The Bustle in a House "The Bustle in a HouseThe Morning after DeathIs solemnest of industriesEnacted upon Earth — The Sweeping up the HeartAnd putting Love awayWe shall not want to use againUntil Eternity —" Henry Van Dyke, American author, 1852-1933 Gone From My Sight "I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and startsfor the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speckof white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other. Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone." Gone where? Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,hull and spar as she was when she left my side.And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.Her diminished size is in me – not in her. And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone,"there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voicesready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!" And that is dying..." Mary Elizabeth Frye, American florist, 1905-2004 Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep Do not stand at my grave and weep.I am not there; I do not sleep.I am a thousand winds that blow.I am the diamond glints on snow.I am the sunlight on ripened grain.I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hushI am the swift uplifting rushOf quiet birds in circled flight.I am the soft stars that shine at night.Do not stand at my grave and cry;I am not there; I did not die. Thomas Bailey Aldrich, American editor, 1836-1907 The Letter I held his letter in my hand,And even while I readThe lightning flashed across the landThe word that he was dead. How strange it seemed! His living voiceWas speaking from the pageThose courteous phrases, tersely choice,Light-hearted, witty, sage. I wondered what it was that died!The man himself was here,His modesty, his scholar's pride,His soul serene and clear. These neither death nor time shall dim,Still, this sad thing must be —Henceforth I may not speak to him,Though he can speak to me! Harry Scott-Holland, British educator, 1847-1918 Death is Nothing at All Death is nothing at all.It does not count.I have only slipped away into the next room.Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was.I am I, and you are you,and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name.Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.Put no difference into your tone.Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant.It is the same as it ever was.There is absolute and unbroken continuity.What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?I am but waiting for you, for an interval,somewhere very near,just round the corner. All is well.Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.One brief moment and all will be as it was before.How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again! David Harkins, British artist, 1958- She is Gone You can shed tears that she is gone,or you can smile because she has lived.You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back,or you can open your eyes and see all she's left.Your heart can be empty because you can't see her,or you can be full of the love 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 her only that she is gone,or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.You can cry and close your mind,be empty and turn your back.Or you can do what she'd want:smile, open your eyes, love and go on. Edited and updated by Chris Raymond Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame. Mary Hall. 2019. Poetry Foundation. Emily Dickinson. Poetry Foundation. The Bustle in a House. New Netherland Institute. Henry van Dyke. All Poetry. Gone from my sight by Henry Van Dyke. All Poetry. Mary Frye. Colby. Thomas Bailey Aldrich. All Poetry. Henry Scott Holland.