Beautiful Non-Religious Funeral Readings and Poems

Poems and readings can be incredibly comforting at times of loss and their words and meaning can make them a very special part of a funeral. There are lots of well-known readings, Bible verses and popular funeral poems that are traditionally used – but many are unsuitable for non-religious funeral services.

At Full Circle Funerals, we know that there are as many different types of funerals as there are people, and it’s important to customise the service to the person who has died, and those they have left behind. For those who want a completely non-religious ceremony, it can be a challenge to find non-religious funeral poems and readings that capture how you feel.

To help, our team has put together seven of our favourite non-religious poems for funerals that you can use when making arrangements, whether as readings or only as inspiration. You can also combine these non-religious funeral poems with religious readings to account for everyone in attendance.

We have many other suggestions so please don’t hesitate to ask if you would like more ideas. If you need support in planning a religious or non-religious funeral, our expert team is happy to help. Get in touch with Full Circle Funerals to learn more about the planning process and for unique ideas and recommendations based on the things that are important to you.

Not, How Did He Die, But How Did He Live?

By Summer Sandercox

This short funeral verse is an uplifting poem about celebrating life and remembering someone who has made a positive impact on those around them.

Not, how did he die, but how did he live?
Not, what did he gain, but what did he give?
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man as a man, regardless of his birth.
Nor what was his church, nor what was his creed?
But had he befriended those really in need?
Was he ever ready, with words of good cheer,
To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
Not what did the sketch in the newspaper say,
But how many were sorry when he passed away?

Death (If I Should Go)

By Joyce Grenfell

Joyce Grenfell was a British actress and satirical writer who became well-known for her wry humour. This poem is often used as a funeral verse because of its sense of fun and positivity.

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 voice

But be the usual selves that I have known
Weep if you must
Parting is Hell
But life goes on
So sing as well.

Roads Go Ever On

By J. R. R. Tolkien

Life is often described as a journey and funerals are a time to reflect on this. This passage from The Lord of the Rings is a popular choice for funerals, particularly non-denominational or humanist ceremonies, because of this metaphor at its heart. In this beautiful reading, Bilbo acknowledges that his journey is complete.

Roads go ever ever on,
Over rock and under tree,
By caves where never sun has shone,
By streams that never find the sea;
Over snow by winter sown,
And through the merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over stone,
And under mountains in the moon.

Roads go ever ever on
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar.
Eyes that fire and sword have seen
And horror in the halls of stone
Look at last on meadows green
And trees and hills they long have known.

The Road goes ever on and on
Out from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
Let others follow it who can!
Let them a journey new begin.
But I at last with weary feet
Will turn towards the lighted inn,
My evening-rest and sleep to meet.

Dear Lovely Death

by Langston Hughes

We chose to include this poem because it introduces the idea of continuing bonds. You can read more about this on the Continuing Bonds section of our website. We have also written a blog, What Are Continuing Bonds, with more information. This concept says that when someone dies, our relationship with them doesn’t end, but it changes. This poem talks about the way things take on new significance after someone has died.

Dear lovely Death
That taketh all things under wing—
Never to kill—
Only to change
Into some other thing
This suffering flesh,
To make it either more or less,
But not again the same—
Dear lovely Death,
Change is thy other name.

Funeral Blues

By W H Auden

This tender poem by Yorkshire-born writer W H Auden was introduced to a new generation by John Hannah in the 1994 film Four Weddings and a Funeral. Funeral Blues is full of emotion and can be very moving when used as a funeral reading. Although the tone is far from uplifting, it can be helpful to some people to acknowledge the hugeness of their grief and this poem does that very well.

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let airplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message “He is Dead”,
Put Crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood,
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

She Is Gone

By David Harkins

People often choose this gentle poem for the funeral of a mother – in fact, it was read at the funeral of the Queen Mother. The words can be changed to make it suitable for a father’s funeral too, which makes this one of the more popular non-religious funeral poems for mum or dad. We think it’s a lovely verse to celebrate the life of anyone, not just a parent.

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 will come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her
Or you can be full of the love that 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 and 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 would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

No Matter What

By Debi Gliori

Debi Gliori’s children’s book No Matter What deals with the big worries that little children often have. In the book, Small’s mother says reassuringly, “I’ll always love you, no matter what.” The excerpt below can be used as a tender reading for a funeral where young children may be present. It is also very comforting for all ages.

Small said, “But what about when we are dead and gone, will you love me then, does love go on?”
Large [replied,] “Look at the stars, how they shine and glow, some of the stars died a long time ago. Still they shine in the evening skies, for you see…love like starlight never dies…”

These are just a few of the many non-denominational readings that can be chosen for a funeral, and we have tried to recommend poems you may not have encountered before. However, even the best-known and most popular funeral poems (such as Requiem by Robert Louis Stevenson and Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep by Mary Elizabeth Frye) can make a big impact if you feel a personal connection to their words.

Sometimes, the person who has died will have had a favourite book, author or poem and a reading from this could have significance. They may even have shared an idea when talking about their funeral wishes. If you are thinking about making and sharing your own funeral wishes, you can find more information on our Funeral Plans and Wishes page.

How Full Circle Funerals can help

At Full Circle Funerals, our team has significant experience in supporting people to plan religious and non-religious funerals. Poems and readings can be an important element of a memorial service, but you don’t have to choose them by yourself. Our local funeral directors can start by discussing the person who has died and the type of funeral service you want to arrange. That way, we can advise you on suitable options – whether you want just one short funeral poem for someone to read, or you need help putting together an order of service with readings, poems and songs.

Our funeral planning process starts with you, and we’ll offer a range of options to help you fully customise your service. Whether you want a religious funeral, a non-religious funeral or something in between, we can recommend readings and poems that will set the right tone and create the funeral service you want.