to all the cultured MNetter out there

[PippiLangstrump]

I need your help ... do you know a good poem or piece of literature that could be read during my FIL's funeral? nothing cheesy

I have got some from Raymond Carver but want to give some choice to DH and SIL.

thanks a lot, it'll mean a lot to us.

A heartfelt thank you to you all. You have been great help and I founf them so beutiful.

It was quite hard to decide as I thought I had to choose something that matches the feelings of my DH and his sister. But they told me to chose something that it reflected mine instead and I chose this one which I want to share with you.

Heraclitus

They told me, Heraclitus, they told me you were dead;
They brought me bitter news to hear and bitter tears to shed;
I wept, as I remembered, how often you and I
Had tired the sun with talking, and sent him down the sky.

And now that thou art lying, my dear old Carian guest,
A handful of grey ashes, long, long ago at rest,
Still are thy pleasant voices, thy nightingales, awake;
For Death, he taketh all away, but them he cannot take.

-- William Johnson Cory

thanks again!

Califrau that poem reminds me of my nan, I remember reading it just after she died.

He is Gone

You can shed tears that he is gone,
Or you can smile because he lived,
You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can't see him
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 him and only that he is gone
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on,
You can cry and close your mind be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
David Harkins

I've read almost all of these before, they are all so lovely. Meant to say in last post, so sorry for your loss.

Rantum I really like that one.