Need help with poem for funeral please - ASAP

[minceorotherwise]

A friend has died leaving two young children (boy & girl 5 / 8) - the funeral is intended to be pretty upbeat as the children are attending
They need a poem which is light and children friendly / focussed
Any ideas would be really helpful
Thanks

Bump ? Anyone still up ?

the only one I can think of it the Christina Rossetti one weep not for me ... is v sad but the message is upbeat ...

Sorry about your friend I have a lowly poem that we read at my dads funeral. Not sure I would say it's upbeat but I think it's lovely. It feels like my dad is saying it to me when I read it-it's read from the deceased's point of view IYSWIM
I don't have it to hand but I can post it tomorrow if you can wait until then?
To give you an idea, the 1st line goes:
'I'm sending this from heaven, where I live with god above.
Where there's no more tears or sadness, there's just eternal love'
Sorry I can't remember more off the top of my head. I wouldn't say it's overly religious despite those 1st lines.

Lovely not lowly

What about No Matter What by Debi Gliori (sorry no link)

Most common at weddings but might work here too as about love going on, etc

Try googling 'Miss me but let me go' ? I think it is lovely , not upbeat as such but about moving on whilst remembering. I have read it at two funerals and it has been well received.

So sorry for your loss,it is always worse when small children are involved isn't it? Xx

How horrible for the family and of course you as a friend OP for you all.

This of Henry Scott Holland's is not actually a poem, but a positive piece often used at fuenrals:

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.

Goodness, just come back on to suggest ' all is well . Clary has already posted it- absolutely beautiful. I think the sentiment is perfect.

That's lovely clary

Becky please do post tomorrow that sounds beautiful I would love to hear the rest x

I see I have managed to cut off the last 2 lines of the Soctt Holland one, tho as it's an excerpt from a sermon it can't matter, but anyway, it continues

One brief moment and all will be as it was before
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again! (tho actually that last bit might suggest to the DC that their mum is coming back? )

This one by Mary Frye is very moving too.

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'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.

I'm sorry for the loss of your friend, it is so hard to find words to say what cannot be expressed. This poem is simple and moving, the language may be appropriate for children

Thanks all, oh dear, those lovely poems have set me off again

Becky, could post the rest of that please? It sounds lovely
Sorry about your Dad

The dash

Ill see if i can get a link. We had it at my dads funeral and lots of people remarked how positive it was.

here. Scroll to bottom

Sorry for your loss. This is the one Becky mentioned.

I'm writing this from heaven, where I dwell with God above.
Where there's no more tears or sadness, there's just eternal love.
Please do not be unhappy because I am out of sight
Remember that I am with you every morning, noon and night.
And I will stay beside you, every day, week and year
And when you're sad I'll still be there to wipe away your tears.
When you think of my life on earth and all those living years
Because your only human their bound to bring you tears.
But do not be afraid to cry it does relieve the pain
Remember there wouldn't be flowers unless we first had rain.
I wish I could tell you of all that God has planned
But even if I were able to, you wouldn't understand.
When your going down the street and you've got me on your mind
I'm walking in your footsteps and only half a step behind.
And if you feel a gentle breeze or wind upon your face
Remember it's only me with a loving and soft embrace.
P.S. God sends His Love

This one is nice too...

You can shed tears that she is gone,
Or you can smile because she 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