Here are modern and secular readings for a funeral with interpretations to help you select the readings that will be most suited to the deceased person you are memorializing.
“When I Die” by Rumi
When I die
when my coffin
is being taken out
you must never think
i am missing this worlddon’t shed any tears
don’t lament or
feel sorry
i’m not falling
into a monster’s abysswhen you see
my corpse is being carried
don’t cry for my leaving
i’m not leaving
i’m arriving at eternal lovewhen you leave me
in the grave
don’t say goodbye
remember a grave is
only a curtain
for the paradise behindyou’ll only see me
descending into a grave
now watch me rise
how can there be an end
when the sun sets or
the moon goes downit looks like the end
it seems like a sunset
but in reality it is a dawn
when the grave locks you up
that is when your soul is freedhave you ever seen
a seed fallen to earth
not rise with a new life
why should you doubt the rise
of a seed named humanhave you ever seen
a bucket lowered into a well
coming back empty
why lament for a soul
when it can come back
like Joseph from the wellwhen for the last time
you close your mouth
your words and soul
will belong to the world of
no place no time
Interpretation
“When I Die” by Rumi is a powerful reflection on death as a natural and beautiful transition. The poet urges us not to see death as an ending but as a new beginning. Rumi describes shedding the physical body like leaving a shell behind to experience true freedom. He reminds us that life and death are part of a cycle, and the soul moves to something greater after leaving the world. The poem teaches that death is not to be feared but embraced as a step closer to unity with the divine and the eternal. It’s a message of hope.
“Death is Nothing at All” by Henry Scott-Holland
Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away to the next room.
I am I and you are you.
Whatever we were to each other,
That, we still are.Call me by my old familiar name.
Speak to me in the easy way
which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.Laugh as we always laughed
at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me. Pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word
that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect.
Without the trace of a shadow on it.Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same that it ever was.
There is absolute unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind
because I am out of sight?I am but waiting for you.
For an interval.
Somewhere. Very near.
Just around the corner.All is well.
Interpretation
“Death is Nothing at All” by Henry Scott-Holland is a comforting reflection on death, written to ease the grief of losing a loved one. The poet reassures that death does not break the bond between people; it is merely a step into another room. He emphasizes that the love, laughter, and shared memories remain unchanged, encouraging the living to continue as they were before, without fear or sorrow. The poem reminds us that the essence of a person never truly leaves and that life and love persist despite physical absence, offering solace and hope in times of loss.
“Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting–
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
Interpretation
“Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver is an inspiring poem about self-acceptance and belonging in the natural world. Oliver reassures readers that they don’t have to strive for perfection or live by rigid expectations to be worthy. Instead, they should embrace their true selves and follow their unique path. Using the image of wild geese flying homeward, the poem connects personal struggles with the broader rhythms of nature. It reminds us that we are never alone, as we are part of the world’s beauty and interconnectedness. The poem offers hope, encouraging readers to find comfort and purpose in their natural belonging.
“Funeral Blues” by W.H. Auden
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message ‘He is Dead’.
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.The stars are not wanted now; put out every one,
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun,
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.
Interpretation
“Funeral Blues” by W.H. Auden is a deeply emotional poem about grief and loss. The speaker mourns the death of someone they deeply loved, expressing a desire to stop the world and silence all sounds to reflect their immense sorrow. Auden uses vivid imagery, such as stopping clocks and silencing dogs, to show how the loss has disrupted everything. The speaker’s world feels empty without their loved one, as they describe the deceased as their “north, south, east, and west.” The poem captures the overwhelming pain of loss and the way grief can make the world feel void of meaning.
“The Dash” by Linda Ellis
I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friendHe referred to the dates on the tombstone
From the beginning…to the end
He noted that first came the date of birthAnd spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years
For that dash represents all the timeThat they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
Know what that little line is worth
For it matters not, how much we own,The cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.
So, think about this long and hard.Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.
And be less quick to angerAnd show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respectAnd more often wear a smile,
Remembering this special dash
Might only last a little while
So, when your eulogy is being readWith your life’s actions to rehash…
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent YOUR dash?
By Linda Ellis, Copyright@2020 Inspire Kindness, thedashpoem.com
Interpretation
“The Dash” by Linda Ellis is a motivational poem that reflects on the significance of the “dash” between a person’s birth and death dates on their tombstone. Ellis emphasizes that this small mark represents an entire life—its choices, relationships, and impact. The poem encourages readers to live intentionally, focusing on kindness, love, and meaningful actions rather than material accomplishments or status. It reminds us that what truly matters is how we spend our time and touch others’ lives. “The Dash” inspires self-reflection and challenges us to ensure our “dash” is filled with purpose and connection.
