There are many websites on the internet where you may find something that you would like to use. Below is a selection of poems that have been helpful to grieving parents.
Little Snowdrop – Author Unknown
The world may never notice
If a Snowdrop doesn’t bloom,
Or even pause to wonder
If the petals fall too soon.
But every life that ever forms,
Or ever comes to be,
Touches the world in some small way
For all eternity.
The little one we longed for
Was swiftly here and gone.
But the love that was then planted
Is a light that still shines on.
And though our arms are empty,
Our hearts know what to do.
For every beating of our hearts
Says that we love you.
Dad’s poem
We never had the chance to play, to laugh, to rock, to wiggle
We long to hold you, touch you now, and listen to your giggle.
She’ll always be your mother, and I’ll always be your Dad,
You will always be our child – the child we never had.
But now you’re gone … but yet you’re here. We sense you everywhere,
You are our sorrow and our joy. There’s love in every tear.
Just know our love goes deep and strong, that we’ll forget you never,
The child we had, but never had – and yet will have forever.
Too Soon (Mary Yarnall)
This was a life that had hardly begun
No time to find your place in the Sun
No time to do all you could have done
But we loved you enough for a lifetime
No time to enjoy the world and its wealth
No time to take life down off the shelf
No time to sing the songs of yourself
Though you had enough love for a lifetime
Those who live long endure sadness and tears
But you’ll never suffer the sorrowing years
No betrayal, no anger, no hatred, no fears
Just love – only love – in your lifetime.
You were a Precious Gift (Author unknown)
You were a precious gift,
Our joy, our dreams.
You were a sparkle through the darkness;
Our hope for a brighter tomorrow.
You warmed our hearts, gave light to our minds,
And beauty to our spirits.
We gave you our love, wrapped you in our care,
caressed you with our smiles.
Now you are gone.
We grieve. We miss you so much.
The loving memories of you will keep you
Forever close to us — in our hearts,
our thoughts, our souls…
Twinkle Twinkle
Twinkle, twinkle little star,
Up in heaven is where you are,
Flying high and twinkling bright
My guiding star, my shining light,
Twinkle, twinkle little star,
My perfect angel is what you are.
I Made it Home
I just wanted to let you know that I made it home.
Everything is so pretty here, so white, so fresh, so new.
I wish that you could close your eyes so you could see it too.
Please try not to be sad for me. Try to understand.
God is taking care of me … I’m in the shelter of His hands.
Here there is no sadness, and no sorrow, and no pain.
Here there is no crying, and I’ll never hurt again.
Here it is so peaceful, when all the angels sing.
I really have to go for now … I’ve just got to try my wings.
If I were here, what would I say?
written by Sydney civil celebrant, Lorraine Lehman-Jones
Yes it is true that I never got to see all that this world holds.
The flowers, the trees, grass – or a bright sunny day.
Not even the smiling faces of my loving family.
But in my heart I have seen all of these things, even in my short time.
It is also true that I never got to feel the many things that you take for granted …
The heat on my face on a hot summer’s day,
Finger paints and crayons I will never hold in my hands.
But I did feel the loving arms of my Mummy and Daddy cradling me gently.
I never got to hear all the sounds that make most hearts sing,
The laughter of a loved one, or the sweet song of a bird,
Songs on the radio and the words “I love you” are to me a mystery.
But the soft touch of my Mummy and Daddy’s hands shouts to me all of this and more.
I will never know the joy of running through a field of flowers,
Never will I roll down the side of a hill, too dizzy to stand.
Hide and seek, tag and catching ball I will have missed,
But in my mind I will do all of these things and more.
You all may see it as me missing out on all these things by leaving you so soon,
But where I am going I will do, see and hear everything you do and more.
I will only think of good things – for in my short existence that is all I have known.
So don’t cry for me, I will do all that you have wished for me and more.
One thing I want you to hold on to
is that I have not known how to hate, how to feel jealous,
or anguish or any of those emotions that can eat away at your soul.
My soul is set free with only one feeling –
for in my short time here with you I only knew love.
And that is what I take with me now.
Tiny Angel
For brief and fleeting moment, an angel touched the ground;
With tiny wings and halo, and sweet, soft angel sounds.
Blessing the lives of others, in beauty and in grace;
Those who saw the angel, knew God had kissed his tiny face.
The angel came for reasons we may not understand;
A journey brief, with gifts so great, and guided by God’s hand.
So, rest now tiny angel, your work on earth is through;
In the beauty of God’s perfect love we saw His gift in you.
Safe in the arms of the angels …
Safe in the arms of the angels
Baby Jordan slumbers today,
Not destined for life on this earth
But a home so far away.
Just as far away as heaven
Just as close as the beat of our hearts,
And although we can’t be with you
We will love you wherever you are.
A dream that blessed us with beauty
Is the hope that still shines our way,
That you rest in the arms of the angels
Till we meet again one sweet day.
Book of Life – Author Unknown
An angel in the Book of Life
wrote down my baby’s birth
and whispered as she closed the book
“Too beautiful for Earth”.
Epitaph on an infant by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Ere Sin could blight or Sorrow fade,
Death came with friendly care;
The opening bud to Heaven conveyed,
And bade it blossom there.
Angel of my Tears ~ Author Unknown
How do you love a person
who never got to be,
or try to envision a face
you never got to see?
How do you mourn the death of one
who never got to live.
When there’s nothing to feel good about
and nothing to forgive?
…I love you, my little baby,
my companion of the night.
Wandering through my lonely hours,
beautiful and bright.
What does it mean to die
before you ever were born,
To live the lovely night of life
and never see the dawn?
Ah! My little baby,
you lived like anyone!
Life’s a burst of joy and pain.
And then like yours, it’s done.
I love you, my little baby,
just as if you’d lived for years.
No more, no less, I think of you,
the Angel of my tears.
Baby castle
In a baby castle,
Just beyond my eye,
My baby plays with angel toys
Money cannot buy.
Who am I to wish him back
Into this world of strife.
No … play on, my baby,
You have eternal life.
At night when all is silent
And sleep forsakes my eyes,
I’ll hear his tiny footsteps
Come running to my side.
His little hands caress me
So tenderly and sweet.
I’ll close my eyes and breathe a prayer
And embrace him in my sleep.
Now I have a treasure
That I rate above all other.
I have known true glory.
I am still his father.
Do Not Judge
Do not judge a biography by it’s length,
Nor by the number of pages in it.
Judge it by the richness of it’s contents
Sometimes those unfinished are among the most poignant…
Do not judge a song by it’s duration
Nor by the number of it’s notes
Judge it by the way it touches and lifts the soul
Sometimes those unfinished are among the most beautiful…
And when something has enriched your life
And when it’s melody lingers on in your heart
Is it unfinished?
Or is it endless?
“A Mother’s Prayer” (song by Celine Dion)
I pray you’ll be my eyes
And watch her where she goes
And help her to be wise
Help me to let go
Every mother’s prayer
Every child knows
Lead her to a place
Guide her with your grace
To a place where she’ll be safe
I pray she finds your light
And holds it in her heart
As darkness falls each night
Remind her where you are
Every mother’s prayer
Every child knows
Need to find a place
Guide her to a place
Give her faith so she’ll be safe
Lead her to a place
Guide her with your grace
To a place where she’ll be safe
Victor Frankl once said:
We cannot judge a biography by its length, by the number of pages in
it; we must judge by the richness of the contents. Sometimes
the “unfinished” are among the most beautiful symphonies.
For Lily – Polly Whittington
I’m sorry . . . I could not stay
To laugh and cry and play with you,
Hold hands to cross the road,
To swing the swing and dance barefoot.
I’m so sorry . . . I just had to go.
But I shall not miss what I never had.
There was a shadow across my light. . .
I was almost perfect . . . but not quite.
I shall never tie a bow in my hair
Nor wonder what I should wear
But it’s not so bad.
I shall not miss what I never had.
I’m sorry I had to leave. . .
I was not perfect enough to live
But I will stay flawless in your eyes. . .
For I shall be the purest thing
That you shall ever know
And I leave my handprint on your heart.
So, remember this. . .
I will never troubled be,
Or ever grieve or disappoint
I am complete in my brief and quiet history
Yes . . . I would have loved to live with you
And look through each morning window,
But I shall not miss what I could not have
I’m just sorry I could not stay.