Each line is in iambic tetrameter, except for lines five and seven, the fifth having an extra syllable, the seventh, two extra. Also, try to sound as natural as possible.The poem is twelve lines long, rhyming in couplets. You don’t have to memorise it, but get used to the sound and shape of the words. To help prepare for the occasion, it’s important to practice the poem beforehand. If you find something that expresses how you feel, that’s the perfect poem to read when scattering your loved one’s ashes. Ultimately, the ashes scattering ceremony is about saying goodbye in whatever way you see fit. There’s no such thing as the best scattering ashes poem or even the right way to do a reading. It’s likely to make friends and family, cry, laugh, and most importantly, remember the deceased. Once you’re done, you can go over it and edit however you wish.Ī personal poem about a loved one can bring comfort both in creating and reading/listening to it. Let the poem take shape without worrying about structure and rhyme. Once you start writing, the words will automatically start to flow. Speak to friends and family for ideas, stories, and memories to include. You take inspiration from existing poems to create a unique poem for your loved one. Or perhaps, you just can’t find the right poem to honour your loved one. Some people have a way with words and, therefore, choose to write their own poems. Consider a short funeral poem or a few verses from a long poem so you can hold the attention of the audience for the whole time you’ll be reading the poem. In that case, choose a poem that’s easy to read and that you will feel confident reading. Last, but not least, some poems use Old English and contain phrases that may be tricky to pronounce. As long as a poem speaks to you and feels appropriate for the occasion, it’s fine. When choosing a scattering ashes poem, you don’t have to stick to poems explicitly written about death or for funerals. In that case, you also need to consider other mourners and the way you would like them to feel while you are reading the poem. As difficult as it may be, they can cause us to confront our emotions, create a wave of positivity, cause deep reflection on the life of the deceased basically, inspire a range of responses. It could be something they might have liked to be read at their funeral or how you remember them.
Go through a collection of remembrance poems and find one that feels right. If not, where do you begin when, in fact, you’re not usually a poetry fan?Ī good place to start is the personality of the deceased and what type of poem they would have liked. Your loved one may have asked for a specific poem to be read at their funeral. Tips for Finding the Right Poem for the Scattering Ashes CeremonyĪ lot of people plan their funeral nowadays down to the last detail. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.Īnd lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Examples of life-affirming poems you can read when scattering the ashes of a loved one include: The message is usually positive, urging mourners not to grieve for too long, but rather to remember the good times and to make sure they live their own lives to the fullest.
Many are written from the deceased’s perspective, leaving a message to those left behind. Life-affirming funeral poems can be uplifting during such a difficult time, bringing comfort and a measure of peace. Even though your loved one is gone forever, you can give a life-affirming message to encourage yourself and other mourners. The ashes scattering ceremony is, of course, a sad occasion and it’s in that time that many people wonder about the purpose of life. Life-Affirming Poems for Scattering Ashes Some are philosophical, some are comforting, and others are painfully personal. Some are uplifting and comforting while others may be emotional or funny. There are so many beautiful pieces of poetry that can be used for an ashes scattering ceremony. They help us acknowledge the truth of our pain and allow us to feel.
They remind us why the person was loved, help us search for meaning in the loss, and breed empathy in the people who hear it. Certain poems are even recognised for their extraordinary healing power. Poetry can help you express the big emotions of grief and love when you can’t seem to form the words yourself. Tips for Finding the Right Poem for the Scattering Ashes Ceremony.Christian/Religious Poems for Scattering Ashes.Life-Affirming Poems for Scattering Ashes.