What do you think?
Rate this book
Poems and Readings for Funerals
As more and more secular funerals are taking place, there is a need for appropriate texts. The Poet Laureate spoke recently of the importance of 'epitaphs' for people: poems or songs which commemorate their lives. Actress Julia Watson, married to the poet David Harsent, was confronted with the issue when her father died, and the result is this inspiring collection of 70 poems and prose extracts suitable for reading at funerals and celebrations of a life. The selections range from Shakespeare to Chief Tecumseh of the Shawnee Nation, from Christina Rossetti to St Francis of Assissi, and included are some very short pieces which could be printed on an order of service.
- GenresPoetry
Paperback
First published April 1, 2004
9 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Julia Watson
3 booksLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
See this thread for more information.
Julia Watson was born in south Wales, and read English and Drama at the University of Exeter. She plays Dr Baz in the series Casualty. She is married to the poet David Harsent, and they live with their daughter in south-west London.
See this thread for more information.
Julia Watson was born in south Wales, and read English and Drama at the University of Exeter. She plays Dr Baz in the series Casualty. She is married to the poet David Harsent, and they live with their daughter in south-west London.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 30, 2023
A varied collection of funereal verse. I bought this for inspiration to write an elegy for my dad’s wake, but ended up finishing that before reading this. While I liked some of the poems, I realised I generally prefer more personal pieces, and many here are just general contemplations on the themes of death and grief, without the individualisations that I find most moving. This is understandable given that this anthology is meant to offer a selection broadly applicable to any service. It could also do with an update to better reflect a diversity of relationships and religions.
January 2, 2022
A short collection of mostly poems, split into sections that broadly cover death, children, husbands/wives, loss, and older people.
I really liked this collection. It lost a star because of its Christian leaning (includes bible verses and some prayers). If I were grieving and not Christian or not straight, I don't know if I'd find the collection quite as beautiful.
I really liked this collection. It lost a star because of its Christian leaning (includes bible verses and some prayers). If I were grieving and not Christian or not straight, I don't know if I'd find the collection quite as beautiful.
October 25, 2023
Poems and Readings for Funerals, Julie Watson
Eclectic range of poems ancient and modern, some are forever & eternal! ****
Including:
“Remember Me” by Christina Rossetti - Bold, determined, and deeply committed to the relationship(s) she cherishes. “Remember me when I am gone away, Gone far away into the silent land; When you can no more hold me by the hand, ..”
“Death is Nothing” by Henry Holland - Transition rather than loss.
“Because I could Not Stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson - I'm an avid fan of her poems!
“.. He kindly stopped for me – The Carriage held but just Ourselves – And Immortality.”
“A Thing of Beauty” by John Keats - This poem is itself a thing of beauty. "A thing of beauty is a joy forever / Its loveliness increases ..”
“Resquiescat”, Oscar Wilde - “Tread lightly, she is near / Under the snow / Speak gently, she can hear / The daisies grow ..”
“Music, When Soft Voices Die” by Percy Shelley - This poem vibrates in the memory.
“Echo” by Christina Rossetti - Wonderful poem, heartache for a deceased friend. “.. Pulse for pulse, breath for breath..”
“Fear No More the Heat O’ the Sun.” “.. As chimney-sweepers, come to dust..” “And renowned be thy grave!”
“Do not go gentle into that good night”, Dylan Thomas - What an intense piece of writing. Wow! “Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. …”
“Death Be Not Proud”, by John Donne - A take on 1 Corinthians 15:55, (“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”) - John Donne has become one of my favourite poets. “Death, be not proud, though some have called thee / Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so..”
“Earth”, Derek Walcott – “Let the day grow on you upward …”
“Live Your Life”, Chief Tecumseh – “Live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart…”
……………………………………………………………………….
Eclectic range of poems ancient and modern, some are forever & eternal! ****
Including:
“Remember Me” by Christina Rossetti - Bold, determined, and deeply committed to the relationship(s) she cherishes. “Remember me when I am gone away, Gone far away into the silent land; When you can no more hold me by the hand, ..”
“Death is Nothing” by Henry Holland - Transition rather than loss.
“Because I could Not Stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson - I'm an avid fan of her poems!
“.. He kindly stopped for me – The Carriage held but just Ourselves – And Immortality.”
“A Thing of Beauty” by John Keats - This poem is itself a thing of beauty. "A thing of beauty is a joy forever / Its loveliness increases ..”
“Resquiescat”, Oscar Wilde - “Tread lightly, she is near / Under the snow / Speak gently, she can hear / The daisies grow ..”
“Music, When Soft Voices Die” by Percy Shelley - This poem vibrates in the memory.
“Echo” by Christina Rossetti - Wonderful poem, heartache for a deceased friend. “.. Pulse for pulse, breath for breath..”
“Fear No More the Heat O’ the Sun.” “.. As chimney-sweepers, come to dust..” “And renowned be thy grave!”
“Do not go gentle into that good night”, Dylan Thomas - What an intense piece of writing. Wow! “Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. …”
“Death Be Not Proud”, by John Donne - A take on 1 Corinthians 15:55, (“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”) - John Donne has become one of my favourite poets. “Death, be not proud, though some have called thee / Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so..”
“Earth”, Derek Walcott – “Let the day grow on you upward …”
“Live Your Life”, Chief Tecumseh – “Live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart…”
……………………………………………………………………….
Read
May 17, 2022i am not expecting a funeral!! but i wanted to read poetry specifically focusing on death, because quite plainly, i despise love and nature poems. but yes i loved this, if i could just remove all the christian readings from it.
September 16, 2024
Borrowed this from the library a decade ago. Just found it in the collection today in the very same library when I stopped by. Really beautiful, classic collection of some of the finest poems on sorrow, lament, dealing with death and identity, etc.
October 12, 2020
Really helped me get through the death of my nephew this year
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews