Poems and Prayers

We have an extensive library of poems and prayers. You can choose from any of those below, or bring us your own favorite poem or prayer. After your selection please scroll to the bottom of the page tp see our box set selections. These sets include matching prayer cards, sign in book, thank you cards, and laminated obituaries.

The poems and prayers below are grouped into the following categories:

Most Popular Poems, Religious Poems, Occupations, Hobbies, Military, Prayers, Bible Versus & Saints

When I'm Gone

When I come to the end of my journey, and I travel my last weary mile,

Just forget if you can, that I ever frowned, and remember only the smile.

Forget unkind words I have spoken; Remember some good I have done,

Forget that I ever had heartache, and remember I've had loads of fun.

Forget that I've stumbled and blundered, and sometimes fell by the way.

Remember I have fought some hard battles, and won, ere the close of the day.

Then forget to grieve for my going, I would not have you sad for a day.

Come to Me

God saw you were getting tired, And a cure was not to be,

So he put his arms around you, And whispered, "Come to Me."

With tearful eyes we watched you, And saw you pass away.

Although we loved you dearly, We could not make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating, Hard working hands at rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.

Do Not Stand

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's gift of snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain, I am the autumn's gentle 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.

Remember Me

Remember me when flowers bloom early in the spring

Remember me on sunny days in the fun that summer brings

Remember me in the fall as you walk through leaves of gold

And remember me in the wintertime in the stories that are told

But most of all remember Each day, right from the start

I will be forever near For I live within your heart

Footprints

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.

Scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each, I noticed footprints

in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints;

other times there was only one.During the lowest time of my life

I could see only one set of footprints so I said, "Lord, you promised me,

that you would walk with me always. Why, when I have needed you most,

would you leave me?" The Lord replied, "My precious child,

I love you and would never leave you. The times

when you have seen only one set of footprints,

it was then that I carried you."

God's Garden 

God looked around the garden and saw an empty space.

He then looked down upon the earth and saw your tired face.

He put his arms around you and lifted you to rest.

God's garden must be beautiful for he only takes the best.

He saw the road was getting rough, and the hills were hard to climb.

So he closed your weary eyelids and whispered "Peace be thine."

It broke our hearts to lose you, but you did not go alone;

For part of us went with you, the day God called you home.

I Am Free

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free;

I'm following the path God laid for me

I took His hand when I heard Him call;

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day, to laugh, to love,

to work, or play. Tasks undone must stay that way.

I've found that peace at the close of the day.

If parting has left a void, then fill it with

remembered joy. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,

Ah, yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow;

I wish for you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life's been full, I savored much;

Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief;

Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me --

God wanted me now, God set me free.

When I Must Leave You

When I must leave you for a little while --

Please do not grieve and shed wild tears

and hug your sorrow to you through the years,

But start out bravely with a gallant smile:

And for my sake and in my name

live on and do all things the same,

Feed not your loneliness on empty days,

But fill each waking hour in useful ways,

Reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer

and I in turn will comfort you and hold you near;

And never, never be afraid to die,

For I am waiting for you in the sky.

We Thought of You Today

We thought of you with love today, But that is nothing new.

We thought about you yesterday and days before that too.

We think of you in silence, We often speak your name

All we have now are memories and your picture in a frame.

Your memory is our keepsake with whom we will never part.

God has you in His keeping, We have you in our hearts.

If love alone could have saved you, You never would have died.

In life we loved you dearly, In death we love you still.

In our hearts you hold a place, No one else can ever fill

It broke our hearts to lose you, But you didn't go alone,

For a part of us went with you the day God took you home.

Afterglow

I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one,

I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.

I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways,

Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days.

I'd like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun

Of happy memories that I leave when life is done.

Just a Memory Away

I’m no longer by your side, But there’s no need to weep;

I’ve left sweet recollections, I’m hoping you would keep.

Eternal joy and memories Stay in our hearts forever,

Strengthening our special bond that parting cannot sever.

Now it’s time to journey on, So let your faith be strong,

For I am in a better place…I’m home where I belong.

And if times of loneliness Bring sorrow and dismay,

Don’t despair, for I am there…Just a Memory Away

Remember Me

Remember me when flowers bloom early in the spring

Remember me on sunny days in the fun that summer brings

Remember me in the fall as you walk through leaves of gold

And remember me in the wintertime In the stories that are told

But most of all remember each day, right from the start

I will be forever near for I live within your heart

You Toiled So Hard

You toiled so hard for those you loved.

You said goodbye to none.

Your spirit flew before we knew,

your work on earth was done.

We miss you now, Our hearts are sore.

As time goes by, we miss you more.

Your loving smile, Your gentle face:

No one can fill your vacant place.

Your life was love and labor, 

Your love for your family true.

You did the best for all of us.

We will always remember you.

Time Has Taken Me

Time has taken me from you, Although not very far.

I'll be watching through the sunshine and through the brightest star.

I'll be watching all of you, From the heavens up above.

So take good care of each other and carry all my love.

If you're ever wondering if I'm there, here's where you can start.

Take a look inside yourself deep within your heart.

I'll always be your baby, your child, your best friend.

So anytime you need me, Close your eyes I'm back again.

While We Are Apart

Distance may separate us, but my heart will never

let you go, For I carry a part of you with me always.

It keeps me going through the day.

It brings a smile to my face and tears to my eyes.

It is a part of my dreams that I live for and cherish.

That part is my wish, my only one,

To see you again soon.

I know that wish will someday come true.

But for now, I will hold in my heart

The memory of you

And never let you go.

A Beautiful Life

A beautiful life that came to an end,

She died as she lived, everyone's friend.

In our hearts a memory will always be kept,

Of one we loved, and will never forget.

Treasured Seasons

For everything there is an appointed season,

And a time for everything under heaven-

A time for sharing, a time for caring.

A time for loving, a time for giving;

A time for remembering, a time for parting.

You have made everything beautiful in its time

For everything You do remains forever.

Little Angel 1

I will not forget you, My precious little child

I will always cherish memories; the love we shared, your smile

And you will be remembered each day, right from the start

As a special little angel, who lives within my heart.

Little Angels 2

When God calls little children to dwell with Him above,

We mortals sometimes question the wisdom of His love.

For no heartache compares With the death of one small child

Who does so much to make our world seem wonderful and mild.

Perhaps God tires of calling the aged to His fold,

So He picks a rosebud before it can grow old.

God knows how much we need them, and so He takes but few

To make the land of Heaven more beautiful to view.

Believing this is difficult, still somehow we must try.

The saddest word mankind knows will always be "Goodbye"

So when a little child departs, we who are left behind

must realize God loves children, angels are hard to find.

Miss Me, But Let me Go

When I come to the end of the road and the sun has set for me,

I want no rites in a gloom-filled room, Why cry for a soul set free.

Miss me a little - but not too long and not with your head bowed low.

Remember the love that we once shared, Miss me - but let me go.

For this is a journey that we all must take and each one must go alone.

It's all a part of the Master's plan A step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick at heart go to the friends we know

And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds

Miss me - but let me go.

Poem for Thy Living

When I am dead, cry for me a little.

Think of me sometimes, but not too much.

It is not good for you, or your wife, your husband, or your children

to allow your thoughts to dwell too long on the dead.

Think of me now and again as I was in life at some moment

which it is pleasant to recall. But not too long.

Leave me in peace as I shall leave you, too, in peace.

While you live, let your thoughts be with the living.

His/Her Journey's Just Begun

Don't think of him as gone away -- his journey's just begun,

life holds so many facets -- this earth is only one.

Just think of him as resting from the sorrows and the tears

in a place of warmth and comfort where there are no days and years.

Think how he must be wishing that we could know today

how nothing but our sadness can really pass away.

And think of him as living in the hearts of those he touched...

for nothing loved is ever lost --and he was loved so much.

- E. Brenneman

Grieve Not

Grieve not...nor speak of me with tears...

but laugh and talk of me as though I were beside you.

I loved you so...'twas Heaven here with you.

The Magic of a Mother's Touch

There's magic in a Mother's touch,

and sunshine in her smile.

There's love in everything she does

to make our lives worthwhile.

We can find both hope and courage

just by looking in her eyes.

Her laughter is a source of joy,

her words are warm and wise.

There is a kindness and compassion

to be found in her embrace,

and we see the light of heaven

shining from a Mother's face.

I Believe in Angels

I believe in angels --that they're always hovering near,

Whispering encouragement whenever clouds appear.

Protecting us from danger and showing us the way,

Performing little miracles, within our lives each day...

Yes, I believe in angels, and I'm sure that you do too,

And I'm convinced that angels are watching over you.

I still think angels sometimes come to wipe our tears away...

When night seems darkest, I believe we'll see a light shine clear,

and when the storm is gone, I'm sure a rainbow will appear...

You Never Said Goodbye

You never said I'm leaving, You never said goodbye.

You were gone before I knew it, and only God knew why.

A million times I needed you, A million times I cried.

If love alone could have saved you, You never would have died.

In life I loved you dearly, In death I love you still.

In my heart you hold a place, That no one could ever fill.

It broke my heart to lose you, But you didn't go alone

For part of me went with you, The day God took you home.

When Curtain falls

When through our tears of sorrow, we see a curtain fall,

And know a dearly-loved one has gone beyond our call,

We must have faith and confidence in God and in His way,

For He will raise the curtain on a fairer scene some day.

The Broken Chain

We little knew that morning that GOD was going to call your name.

In life we loved you dearly, in death we do the same.

It broke our hearts to lose you, you do not go alone;

for part of us went with you, the day GOD called you home.

You left us peaceful memories, your love is still our guide.

And though we cannot see you, you are always at our side.

our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same;

but as GOD call us one by one, THE CHAIN will link again

Safely Home

I am in Heaven, dear ones; Oh so happy and so bright!

There is perfect joy and beauty In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over; every restless tossing passed;

I am now at peace forever, safely home in heaven at last.

Did you wonder why I so calmly trod the valley of the shade?

Oh! But Jesus' love illumined every dark and fearful glade.

And he came himself to meet me in that way so hard to tread;

And with Jesus' arm to lean on, could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely, for I love you dearly still;

Try to look beyond earth's shadows, pray to trust our Father's will.

There is work still waiting for you, so you must not idly stand;

Do it now, while life remaineth --you shall rest in Jesus' land.

When that work is all complete, He will gently call you home;

Oh, the rapture of that meeting, Oh, the joy to see you come!

Precious Memories

I am gone, but please don't weep or grieve with great despair

For I am now with Jesus Heaven's beauty I now share

Try to look beyond today for there's much for you to do

God has many blessings waiting on this earth for you

And think on precious memories until the day we'll be

Together in God's Heaven for all eternity

Firefighter’s Prayer

When I am called to duty, God, whenever flames may rage;

give me strength to save some life, whatever be it's age.

Help me embrace a little child before it is too late;

or save an older person from the horror of that fate.

I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me;

to guard my every neighbor and protect his property.

And if, according to my fate, I am to lose my life; please bless

with your protecting hand my children and my wife.

Fireman's Prayer

Almighty God, Protector of all Mankind,

Your strength, power, and wisdom are a beacon

of light to all men: Give special guidance to Firemen

and Firefighters so that we may be protected

from harm while performing our duty. Help me

with Your loving care while I work to save the lives

and property of all people young and old.

Give me the courage, the alertness to protect

my neighbors and all others whom

I am pledge to aid when involved in a fire or accident.

Policeman's Prayer

Lord, I ask for courage:

courage to face and conquer my own fears;

courage to take me where others will not go.

I ask for strength; strength of body to protect others;

strength of spirit to lead others. I ask for dedication:

dedication to my job to do it well; dedication to my

community to keep it safe. Give me, Lord, concern:

concern for all those who entrust me;

and compassion for those who need me;

and please, Lord, through it all, be at my side.

Golfer's Prayer

For all the times I have swung a club.

For the many friends and the game I love.

For the patience I have found in sand or rough.

For the excitement of making shots thought tough.

For success in not measured by holes in one,

But by the times that are shared when you are having fun.

Lord would you grant me one last request,

To play you a round of the game I love best.

Stars and Stripes

The Stars and Stripes, they flew forever always in his heart.

He was loyal to his nation and bravely did his part.

Always thinking of his brother ever in his mind.

He stood for love of country and most of all mankind.

Now gazing down with his Master through a light and heavenly cloud,

He's still looking out for us of whom he is so proud.

Taps

Day is done, gone the sun,

From the lake, from the hill, From the sky.

All is well, safely rest God is nigh.

Thanks and praise, for our days,

'Neath the sun, 'neath the stars, 'Neath the sky.

As we go, this we know, God is nigh. Amen.

Irish Blessing (Nautical)

May the tide rise to meet you.

May the wind always fill your sails

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

And the rains fall soft upon your decks.

And until we meet again

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Fisherman's Prayer

God grant that I may live to fish for another shining day,

But when my final cast is made, I then most Humbly pray,

When nestled in your Landing net as I lay Peacefully asleep,

You'll smile at me and judge that I am Good enough to keep.

Psalm 23: Mariner's Version

The Lord is My Pilot

The Lord is my Pilot; I shall not drift.

He leadeth me across the dark waters

and steereth me in the deep channels.

He keepeth my Log and guideth me

by the star of holiness for His Name's sake.

Yea, though I sail amid the thunders and tempests of life,

I shall dread no danger, For Thou art with me;

Thy love and Thy care, they shelter me.

Thou preparest a harbour before me

in the homeland of eternity;

Thou anointest the waves with oil,

and my ship rideth calmly,

Surely sunlight and starlight shall favor me

all the days of my voyaging,

and I will rest in the port of my Lord forever.

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty,

Creator of heaven and earth;

and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell; the 3rd day He rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God,

the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come

to judge the living and the dead.

Irish Blessing

May the road rise with you,

May the wind be always

at your back,

May the sun shine warm

upon your face,

And rains fall soft

upon your fields,

And until we meet again,

may God keep you

in the hollow of His hand.

Memorare

Remember O most gracious Virgin Mary,

that never was it known that anyone

who fled to Thy protection, implored Thy help,

or sought Thy intercession was left unaided.

Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto Thee,

O Virgin of Virgins. My Mother!

To Thee I come, before Thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.

Oh Mother of the Word incarnate,despise not my petitions,

but in Thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.

Days Without End

GOD, Your days are without end, Your mercies beyond counting.

Help us always to remember that life is short and the day of our death

is known to You alone. May Your Holy Spirit lead us to live

in holiness and justice all our days. Then, after serving You

in the fellowship of Your Church, with strong faith,

consoling hope, and perfect love for all, may we joyfully

come to Your Kingdom.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with thee:

blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners now,

and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil,

For thine is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory, forever.

Amen.

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept

the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

Let Us Pray

Almighty God, through the death of Your Son on the cross,

you have overcome death for us. Through his burial

and resurrection from the dead you have made the grave

a holy place and restored to us eternal life.

We pray for those who died believing in Jesus and are

buried with him in the hope of rising again.

God of the living and the dead, may those who faithfully

believed in you on earth praise you forever

in the joy of heaven. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

De Profundis

Thee O Lord: Lord hear my voice. Let thine ears be

attentive to the voice of my supplication.

If Thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities, Lord who shall stand it?

For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of Thy law,

have I waited for Thee O Lord. My soul hath relied on His word:

my soul hath hoped in the Lord. From the morning watch even until night:

let Israel hope in the Lord. Because with the Lord there is mercy and with Him

plenteous redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all iniquities.

Eternal rest grant him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

Loved Her

Father we entrust our sister to your mercy.

You loved her greatly in this life: now that she is freed from all its cares,

give her happiness and peace for ever.

Welcome her now into paradise where there will be no more sorrow,

no more weeping or pain, but only peace and joy

with Jesus your Son, and the Holy Spirit

for ever and ever.

Loved Him

Father we entrust our brother to your mercy.

You loved him greatly in this life: now that he is freed from all its cares,

give him happiness and peace for ever.

Welcome him now into paradise where there will be no more sorrow,

no more weeping or pain, but only peace and joy

with Jesus your Son, and the Holy Spirit

for ever and ever.

Priest Prayer

O God, who amongst Thy Apostolic priests has raised up Thy servant,

to the dignity of a priest, grant, we beseech Thee,

that He may also be admitted in heaven to their everlasting fellowship,

through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.

And let perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace.

Amen.

We Give Them Back

We give them back to you, O Lord,

who first gave them to us;

yet as you did not lose them in the giving,

so we do not lose them by their return . . .

For what is yours is ours also,

if we belong to you.

Love is unending, and the boundary

of this mortal life is but a horizon,

and a horizon is nothing

save the limit of our sight.

Lift us up, strong Son of God,

that we may see more clearly . . .

And while you prepare a place for us,

prepare us also for that happy place,

that we may be with you

and with those we loved for evermore.

Prayer For The Crucifix

Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus while before Your face.

I humbly kneel and beseech You to fix deep in my heart

lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity, true contrition for my sins,

and a firm purpose of amendment.

While I contemplate, with great love and tender pity,

Your five most precious wounds. Pondering over them within me

and calling to mind the words which David, Your prophet, said of You, my Jesus:

"They have pierced my hands and my feet, they have numbered all my bones".

Amen.

Resurrection Prayer

Most merciful Father,

we commend our departed into your hands.

We are filled with the sure hope

that our departed will rise again on the

Last Day with all who have died in Christ.

We thank you for all the good things

you have given during our

departed's earthly life.

O Father, in your great mercy,

accept our prayer that the Gates of Paradise

may be opened for your servant.

In our turn, may we too be comforted

by the words of faith until we greet Christ

in glory and are united with you

and our departed.

Through Christ our Lord, Amen. 

O’Gentlest Heart

O gentlest heart of Jesus,

Ever present in the Blessed Sacrament,

Ever consumed with burning love

For the poor captive souls,

Have mercy on the soul of thy departed servant.

Be not sever in Thy judgment

But let some drops of Thy Precious Blood

Fall upon the devouring flames,

And do Thou O Merciful Saviour,

Send Thy angels to conduct thy departed servant

To a place of refreshment, Light and peace. Amen

Loved Daughter

Father, we entrust our sister to your mercy.

You loved her greatly in this life;

now that she is freed from all its cares,

give her happiness and peace forever.

Welcome her now into paradise

where there will be no more sorrow,

no more weeping or pain,

but only peace and joy with Jesus,

your son, and the Holy Spirit,

forever and ever.

The Beatitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart, For they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

For they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted,

for the sake of righteousness,

for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 5:3-10

Psalm 84

How dear to me is your dwelling place,

O Lord of Hosts!

My soul hath a desire

and longing for the Courts of the Lord;

My heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.

The sparrow has found her a house

And the swallow a nest

where she may lay her young;

by the side of your altars, O Lord of hosts,

my King and my God.

Happy are they who dwell in your house!

They will always be praising you.

Psalm 121

I will lift mine eyes unto the hills

from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the Lord,

which made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved:

he that keepeth thee

will not slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is thy keeper:

the Lord is thy shade upon thy hand.

The sun shall not smite thee by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil;

He shall preserve thy soul.

The Lord shall preserve thy going out

and thy coming in from this time forth,

and even for evermore.

John 14:1-3

Let not your hearts be troubled; 

believe in God, believe also in me.  

In my Father’s house are many rooms;

if it were not so, would I have told you that I

would prepare a place for you?

And when I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come again and will take you to myself,

that where I am you may be also.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;

he leadeth me beside still waters.

He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me

in the paths of righteousness

for His name's sake.

though I walk through the valley

of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;

for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff

they comfort me. Thou preparest a table

before me in the presence of mine enemies;

thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth

over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life; and I will dwell in

the house of the Lord forever.