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17 Nov 11 - 09:45 AM (#3258719) Subject: Poems, Songs, Readings for a Funeral? From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray A close family member has recently passed leaving us in a bit of a quandary as to what to use for readings at the funeral; humanist, but deeply spiritual, with a love of the sea & the landscapes of Northumberland and Yorkshire. I have a few ideas, but maybe I'm too close for any sort of clarity. Ideas welcome... |
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17 Nov 11 - 10:00 AM (#3258725) Subject: RE: Poems, Songs, Readings for a Funeral? From: Barbara Shaw Crossing the Bar by Alfred Lord Tennyson Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea, But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound and foam, When that which drew from out the boundless deep Turns again home. Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark! And may there be no sadness of farewell, When I embark; For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place The flood may bear me far, I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have crost the bar. Rani Arbo put this to music beautifully with her former band Salamander Crossing. Very sorry for your loss. |
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17 Nov 11 - 10:15 AM (#3258734) Subject: RE: Poems, Songs, Readings for a Funeral? From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray Cheers Barbara - that's beautiful. The loss is a weird one because we lost her when she had her stroke 6 years ago; so it's a sense of completion, release, liberation and the re-joining of old friends that's uppermost right now. If some things are worse than death, then even death itself might be welcome in the end. |
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17 Nov 11 - 10:49 AM (#3258755) Subject: RE: Poems, Songs, Readings for a Funeral? From: open mike 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 sun on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circling flight. I am the soft starlight at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there; I did not die. Mary Frye, who was living in Baltimore at the time, wrote the poem in 1932. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_not_stand_at_my_grave_and_weep |
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17 Nov 11 - 12:26 PM (#3258808) Subject: RE: Poems, Songs, Readings for a Funeral? From: Crowhugger My heartfelt condolences. Perhaps browse your favourite Thoreau (if he's known over there). As a humanist who meditates almost daily in the company of the minutiae and grandeur of nature I find countless opportunities to "be" there when I must be indoors. |
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17 Nov 11 - 01:22 PM (#3258814) Subject: RE: Poems, Songs, Readings for a Funeral? From: Wolfhound person Bonny Druridge Bay: Lindisfarne - both tunes by Matt Seattle. Wild Hills of Wannie (that's a poem too). Paws |
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17 Nov 11 - 01:59 PM (#3258823) Subject: RE: Poems, Songs, Readings for a Funeral? From: GUEST,999 I am standing on the seashore, A ship sails and spreads her white sails to the morning breeze And starts for the ocean. She is an object of beauty and I stand watching her till at last she fades on the horizon, and someone at my side says " she is gone". Gone where? Gone from my sight that is all. She is just as large in the masts, hull and spurs, as she was when I saw her, and just as able to bear her load of living freight to its destination. The diminished size, the total loss of sight is in me not in her, and just at the moment when someone at my side says "She is gone" There are others who are watching her coming, and other voices take up the glad shout. "Here she comes." And that is dying. Bishop Brent |
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17 Nov 11 - 02:00 PM (#3258824) Subject: RE: Poems, Songs, Readings for a Funeral? From: Megan L Jim Brannigan (Jim Lad) does a beautiful haunting version of "Oft in the stilly night the poem of Thomas Moore Oft, in the stilly night, Ere Slumber's chain has bound me, Fond Memory brings the light Of other days around me; The smiles, the tears, Of boyhood's years, The words of love then spoken; The eyes that shone, Now dimm'd and gone, The cheerful hearts now broken! Thus, in the stilly night, Ere Slumber's chain hath bound me, Sad Memory brings the light Of other days around me. When I remember all The friends, so link'd together, I've seen around me fall Like leaves in wintry weather; I feel like one, Who treads alone Some banquet-hall deserted, Whose lights are fled, Whose garlands dead, And all but he departed! Thus, in the stilly night, Ere Slumber's chain hath bound me, Sad Memory brings the light Of other days around me. |
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17 Nov 11 - 03:18 PM (#3258865) Subject: RE: Poems, Songs, Readings for a Funeral? From: Bert Goodbye (Bert Hansell) Your life's hard work is over all the storms have left the sky the sun sets in the mountains and its time to say goodbye you have been my own true lover the time has come I know you'll be part of me forever though I have to let you go |
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17 Nov 11 - 03:20 PM (#3258866) Subject: RE: Poems, Songs, Readings for a Funeral? From: Bert Ariseli A D A Sleep softly my pretty one E7 Sleep softly my darling A E7 You promised a happiness that only you could bring D A You came for a moment E7 A and then you were gone E7 A E7 A Faded away like a snowflake in spring D A Sleep softly my pretty one E7 A Sleep softly my love |
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17 Nov 11 - 06:30 PM (#3258981) Subject: RE: Poems, Songs, Readings for a Funeral? From: GUEST,leeneia The poem 'Dover Beach.' by Matthew Arnold. Very humanist. The sea is calm to-night. The tide is full, the moon lies fair Upon the straits; on the French coast the light Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand; Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay. Come to the window, sweet is the night-air! Only, from the long line of spray Where the sea meets the moon-blanched land, Listen! you hear the grating roar Of pebbles which the waves draw back, and fling, At their return, up the high strand, Begin, and cease, and then again begin, With tremulous cadence slow, and bring The eternal note of sadness in. Sophocles long ago Heard it on the Agaean, and it brought Into his mind the turbid ebb and flow Of human misery; we Find also in the sound a thought, Hearing it by this distant northern sea. The Sea of Faith Was once, too, at the full, and round earth's shore Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furled. But now I only hear Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar, Retreating, to the breath Of the night-wind, down the vast edges drear And naked shingles of the world. Ah, love, let us be true To one another! for the world, which seems To lie before us like a land of dreams, So various, so beautiful, so new, Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light, Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain; And we are here as on a darkling plain Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight, Where ignorant armies clash by night. ============= You woulnd't have to use all of it. |
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17 Nov 11 - 08:41 PM (#3259040) Subject: RE: Poems, Songs, Readings for a Funeral? From: Amos Gone From My Sight I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other. Then, someone at my side says; "There, she is gone!" "Gone where?" Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port. Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says, "There, she is gone!" There are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout; "Here she comes!" And that is dying. by Henry Van Dyke, a 19th Century clergyman, educator, poet, and religious writer. |
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18 Nov 11 - 12:40 AM (#3259111) Subject: RE: Poems, Songs, Readings for a Funeral? From: GUEST,999 Apologies. I took my post from a site and obviously they got it wrong (and subsequently so did I). Beautiful poem. |
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18 Nov 11 - 04:12 AM (#3259158) Subject: RE: Poems, Songs, Readings for a Funeral? From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray Thank you all so very much for this. As of now, I think we've nailed it with a dual reading of Tennyson & Van Dyke, but all of your suggestions here have been deeply affecting & much appreciated by way of overall (abd personal) catharthis. |
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18 Nov 11 - 08:15 AM (#3259286) Subject: RE: Poems, Songs, Readings for a Funeral? From: GUEST,leeneia You're very welcome. You have my sympathy at this difficult time. |
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23 Nov 11 - 07:15 PM (#3262376) Subject: RE: Poems, Songs, Readings for a Funeral? From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray Gave a reading of Tennyson's Crossing the Bar at my mother's funeral today; makes other gigs seem very straightforward somehow. Again, thanks for all your help. |
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23 Nov 11 - 08:13 PM (#3262399) Subject: RE: Poems, Songs, Readings for a Funeral? From: GUEST I Will Not Pass This Way Again |
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23 Nov 11 - 09:17 PM (#3262433) Subject: RE: Poems, Songs, Readings for a Funeral? From: open mike I recall hearing of a song about a ship sailing away and disappearing after going over the horizon...but do not recall who it is by. A friend once asked me to help him find the lyrics for a friend's (or brother's) ask scattering which was being held on a sail boat. Does this song ring a bell with anyone? |
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24 Nov 11 - 04:20 AM (#3262534) Subject: RE: Poems, Songs, Readings for a Funeral? From: Alan Day I went to a funeral some time ago and I remember the words spoken by a little old man with a long white beard. Life is like a stream that starts deep in a mountain , or, hillside. A tiny trickle of water jumping, twisting and turning as it comes down the hill, gathering strength as it is joined by others, slowing down as it forms a beautiful river and finally gently flows out to sea. I have composed a tune which tries to recreate this called "Stream to river flows" which I can post, or send it to you if you PM me. Al |
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24 Nov 11 - 04:21 AM (#3262535) Subject: RE: Poems, Songs, Readings for a Funeral? From: GUEST The poem "Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep" is also a beautiful song. recorded by the women's group Angel Band on their CD 'With Roots and Wings". AnneMc |
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24 Nov 11 - 04:51 AM (#3262539) Subject: RE: Poems, Songs, Readings for a Funeral? From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray Does this song ring a bell with anyone? It sounds like the Van Dyke poem (Gone From My Sight) given above in a couple of versions. Although I didn't read it in the event, I read it to some of my mother's friends as we sat around the Wooden Doll in North Shields afterwards with impressive views over the mouth of the River Tyne even as we watched one of the big Scandinavian ferries disappear over the horizon. |