Serving North-Central Idaho

Memorial Poems

This is attributed to
Henry Scott Holland - 1847-1918
Canon, St.Paul's Cathedral

"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 around
The corner.
ALL IS WELL."

AUTUMN RAIN

"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's gilt upon the snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn's rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of 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."
(Mary E. Frye)

WHY GOD TAKES CHILDREN

When God calls little children to dwell with Him above.
We mortals sometimes question the wisdom of His love.
For no heartache compares with the death of one small child.
Who does so much to make our world seem so wonderful and mild.
Perhaps God tires of calling the aged to His fold.
So he picks a rosebud before it can grow.
God knows how much we need them, and so he takes but few.
To make the land of heaven more beautiful to view.
Believing this is difficult still somehow we must try.
The saddest word mankind knows will always be Good-bye.
So when a little child departs we who are left behind,
Must realize God loves children.
Angels are hard to find!
(Author Unknown)

DO NOT WEEP FOR ME

Do not weep for me, for I have lived...
I have joined my hand with my fellows hands,
to leave the planet better than I found it.

Do not weep for me, for I have loved and been loved by my family,
by those I loved who loved me back.
For I never knew a stranger, only friends.

Do not weep for me.
When you feel the ocean spray upon your face,
I am there.
When your heart beats faster at the dolphin's leaping grace,
I am there.
When you reach out to touch another's heart,
as now I touch God's face,
I am there.
Do not weep for me, I am not gone.
(Author Unknown. This was recited at the funeral of Michael Landon.)

THERE IS NO DEATH

There is a plan far greater than the plan you know;
There is a landscape broader than the one you see.
There is a haven where storm-tossed souls may go---
You call it death---we, immortality.

You call it death---this seeming endless sleep;
We call it birth---the should at last set free.
'Tis hampered not by time or space---you weep.
Why weep at death? Tis immortality.

Farewell, dear voyageur---'twill not be long.
Your work is done---now may peace rest with thee.
Your kindly thoughts and deeds---they will live on.
This is not death---'tis immortality.

Farewell, dear voyageur---the river winds and turns;
The cadence of your songs wafts near to me,
And now you know the thing that all men learn:
There is no death---there's immortality.
(Author Unknown)

TO THOSE I LOVE

If I should ever leave you whom I love
To go along the Silent Way, grieve not.
Nor speak of me with tears, but laugh and talk
Of me as if I were beside you there.
( I'd come---I'd come, could I but find a way!
But would not tears and grief be barriers? )
And when you hear a song or see a bird
I loved, please do not let the thoughts of me
Be sad.....For I am loving you just as
I always have.....You were so good to me!
There are so many things I wanted still
To do---so many things to say to you....
Remember that I did not fear.....It was
Just leaving you that was so hard to face.....
We cannot see beyond.....But this I know:
I loved you so---'twas heaven here with you!
( Isla Paschal Richardson.
Read by Gregory Peck at the funeral of Frank Sinatra)

WHEN I AM GONE

When I am gone release me
Let me go, I have so many things to see and do
You mustn't tie yourself to me with tears
Be happy that we had so many beautiful years
I gave to you my love
You can only guess how much you gave me in happiness
I thank you for the love you each have shown
But now it's time I travel alone
So grieve awhile for me, if grieve you must
Then let your grief be comforted by my trust
It's only for agile that we must part
So bless the memories within your heart
I won't be far away, for life goes on
So if you need me, call and I will come
Though you can't see or touch me, I'll be near
And if you listen within your heart you'll hear
All my love around you soft and clear
And then when you must come this way alone
I'll greet you with a smile and say
"Welcome Home."
(Author Unknown)

Legend of the Sand Dollar

Upon this odd-shaped sea shell,
a legend grand is told
About the life of Jesus, the most
wondrous tale of old.

Its center markings plainly show
the storied Guiding Star
Which led to tiny Bethlehem,
three wise men from afar.

Five wounds suffered by our Lord
from nails and Roman spear
When he died upon the Cross
are wounds shown plainly here.

Within the shell, when opened
five Doves of Peace are found
They celebrate this legend, so may
Peace and Love abound.
(Anonymous)

The Happy Times

We sadly bid you our goodbye
And remember happy times,
Knowing we will meet again
In timeless Paradise
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust:
Your life, so quickly flew.
Your body rests with mother earth
We will long remember you.
Fly Home Now. Be at rest and peace.
Your spirit we send with Love
Fly up to glorious Heaven now
Fly home on the wings on a dove.
(Freddie Ramirez 1970 - 2009)

All He Once Had

Cottonwood sends its puffs on by
Whippoorwill lost its mate
A slow sad cry.

Old Bill in a rocking chair
On the front porch sad
Remembering the times
And what he once had.

Off on the hill
Stuck in time
Old old headstones
All in a line.

Thoughts of yesterday
Like a page in rhyme
A war to win
The hurt in mime.

Like a road well traveled
He saw the way
The stone on the end
Finaly had its say

He walked in fields
When he was young
Fought the battles
Fired the gun

Now let him rest
On Gods porch in sad
With the cottonwood puffs
And all he once had.

(The Dream Merchant)

Lifted Up On The Wings Of A Dove

Pause for a moment and linger here
To share a memory of a loved one dear
Though (s)he is not with us (S)he is not gone
For in our hearts(s)he shall live on

For all things there is purpose in God's perfect plan
According to His will for the salvation of man
As a snow white dove takes to the skies
A cherished soul now journeys towards paradise

On gossamer wings, three more take flight
Gilded as with gold in heaven's light
One for the Father: one for His son above
And one for the Holy Spirit: a blessing of Their love

May they guide (him/her) swiftly with matchless grace
To reside with the angels in God's warm embrace
Our sincerest prayers and eternal love
We offer to heaven on the wings of a dove.

(By R. deVoll Fisher August 2010)