Humanist funeral readings and poems
Find thoughtful words to celebrate a life. Here are some non-religious funeral poems with a Humanist heart.
Planning a Humanist or non-religious funeral involves planning moments that reflect the life and values of the person who has died. Poetry and readings are perfect for expressing emotions that are difficult to put into words.
To inspire you, we've put together this selection of poems and readings that align with Humanist principles. They focus on the unique human experience and the celebration of life without mentioning religion or God.
1. "Requiem" by Robert Louis Stevenson
Under the wide and starry sky,
Dig the grave and let me lie.
Glad did I live and gladly die,
And I laid me down with a will.
This be the verse you grave for me:
Here he lies where he longed to be;
Home is the sailor, home from sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.
Robert Louis Stevenson's poem conveys a serene acceptance of death, reflecting a life well-lived. He wrote it 14 years before he died. It features on his gravestone.
Its straightforward language and peaceful imagery make it suitable for someone who embraced life and faced its end with tranquillity.
2. "Song (When I am dead, my dearest)" by Christina Rossetti
When I am dead, my dearest,
Sing no sad songs for me;
Plant thou no roses at my head,
Nor shady cypress tree:
With showers and dewdrops wet;
And if thou wilt, remember,
And if thou wilt, forget.
Victorian poet Christina Rossetti asks her loved ones not to dwell in grief or mourn her excessively. She wants them to carry on living life fully and to be free of the burden of constant remembrance.
It's a good choice for people who have expressed similar sentiments, such as wanting their loved ones to enjoy life even after their passing.
3. "Finis" by Walter Savage Landor
I STROVE with none, for none was worth my strife.
Nature I loved and, next to Nature, Art:
I warm'd both hands before the fire of life;
It sinks, and I am ready to depart.
Walter Savage Landor's poem reflects on his solitary life and how much he's enjoyed it through his love of art and nature. There is no bitterness or regret – he has pursued his passions and expressed himself creatively. Because of that, he is fulfilled and not afraid of death.
This poem would suit a fellow introvert, artist or lover of nature who lived a life they loved.
4. "On His Own Death" by Walter Savage Landor
Death stands above me, whispering low
I know not what into my ear:
Of his strange language all I know
Is, there is not a word of fear.
Another comforting work of Landor's, this poem describes a meeting with death, describing it as mysterious but not at all scary. It would be a fitting reading for someone who had come to terms with dying and would also perhaps provide comfort for those who knew them.
5. "Thanatopsis" by William Cullen Bryant
So live, that when thy summons comes to join
The innumerable caravan…
Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night,
Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave,
Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.
William Cullen Bryant encourages living a meaningful and fulfilling life that allows you to peacefully accept death when it comes around. This poem would be ideal to celebrate someone who lived life to the fullest before they were laid to rest.
6. "Turn Again To Life" by Mary Lee Hall
If I should die and leave you here a while,
Be not like others sore undone,
Who keep long vigil by the silent dust.
For my sake turn again to life and smile,
Nerving thy heart and trembling hand to do
Something to comfort other hearts than
Thine.
Mary Lee Hall wrote this poem from the perspective of someone approaching the end of their life. The narrator asks their loved ones to avoid getting stuck in grief. Instead, they are encouraged to enjoy life and not let all their love go to waste. They should, she says, comfort others with it instead.
This would make a fitting reading for a kind and empathetic person who has died. Someone, perhaps, who you know would want you to carry on living a life you love and wouldn't want their death to hold you back.
7. "Let Me Go" by Christina Rossetti
When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me
I want no rites in a gloom filled room
Why cry for a soul set free?...
When you are lonely and sick at heart
Go to the friends we know.
Laugh at all the things we used to do
Miss me, but let me go.
Another timeless poem from Christina Rossetti, "Let Me Go" serves as a poignant reminder to grieve – but not let it overwhelm you. Your loved ones want you to remember them and the love you shared but also carry on living.
This would be perfect for a partner, family member or friend who you shared good times with.
Akshardham Funeral Directors is an independent funeral home based in Greater London. Are you organising a funeral? Visit our blog for more funeral advice and ideas.
