Help! I Need A Poem or Something Else (?) For A Memorial Scrapbook

[becka]

As some of you know I lost a very good friend of mine a few days ago. She was only 43 and she died from a blood clot in her brain that she probably got from falling after tripping on her skirt about 2 weeks ago. Her death seems so senseless and I have been having a great deal of difficulty dealing with it.

In addition to being my friend she was also my co-worker. A memorial scrapbook is being put together to give to her family from those of us who worked with her and I would like to contibute a nice poem or saying or something about what a true and wonderful friend she has been to me. I plan on writing a personal letter to the family so I just want something else nice for the scrapbook.

Does anyone have any ideas for me? We need to have all submissions turned in before noon tomorrow so I need to have something put together tonight.

I really appreciate any help that you can give me. I really want something heartfelt and touching but I just don't know what. I just don't even know where to start.....

 

[Sandy22]

I'm sorry for your loss. Have you tried asking your question over on the DIS scrapbooking forum? Are you a member of twopeas? They have a whole section devoted to memorial poems and sayings.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

This has always been a favorite of mine:

Do not stand at my grave and weep

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 glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you wake in the morning 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 weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die!
Mary Frye (1932)

 

[Disney Doll]

Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but openings in Heaven where the light of our loved ones shines down to let us know they are alright.

 

[BlkBearSuz]

This is my favorite website for poems and sayings. Maybe there will be something there that you can use.

http://www.dennydavis.net/poemfiles/mempoem.htm

Sue

 

[OceanAnnie]

I am so sorry you lost your friend. I always liked this John Denver song. I think it could be used for a friend. It might be something you could use.

Perhaps Love

Perhaps love is like a resting place, a shelter from the storm.
It exists to give you comfort, it is there to keep you warm.
And in those times of trouble when you are most alone,
the memory of love will bring you home.

Perhaps love is like a window, perhaps an open door.
It invites you to come closer, it wants to show you more.
And even if you lose yourself and don't know what to do,
the memory of love will see you through.

Oh, love to some is like a cloud, to some as strong as steel.
For some a way of living, for some a way to feel.
And some say love is holding on and some say letting go.
And some say love is everything and some say they don't know.
Perhaps love is like the ocean, full of conflict, full of change.
Like a fire when it's cold outside or thunder when it rains.
If I should live forever and all my dreams come true, my memories of love will be of you.

Oh, love to some is like a cloud, to some as strong as steel.
For some a way of living, for some a way to feel.
And some say love is holding on and some say letting go.
And some say love is everything and some say they don't know.
Perhaps love is like the ocean, full of conflict, full of change.
Like a fire when it's cold outside or thunder when it rains.
If I should live forever and all my dreams come true, my memories of love will be of you.

 

[becka]

This is my favorite website for poems and sayings. Maybe there will be something there that you can use.

http://www.dennydavis.net/poemfiles/mempoem.htm

Sue

Thank you so much for this link. I found a wonderful poem on that site.

Forever in Our Hearts

A million times we needed you,
A million times we cried,
If love alone would have saved you,
You would of never died.

In life we loved you dearly,
In death we love you still,
In our hearts you hold a place,
No one can ever fill.

A light from our household is gone,
A voice from our love is stilled,
A place in our vacant home,
Which never can be filled.

Some may think you are forgotten,
Though on earth you are no more,
But in our memory you are with us,
As you always were before.

It broke our hearts to lose you,
But you did not go alone,
A part of us went with you,
The day God called you home.

Your precious memories are for keepsakes,
with which we never part,
God has you safely in his keeping,
But we have you forever in our hearts

Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions. It means a lot that you are helping me try to honor my good friend.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I have always liked this. I do lots of vounteering with AIDS patients and another volunteer brought this to a meeting.

Mourner's Kaddish
"We Remember You"

At the rising of the sun and at its
going down - we remember you.

At the blowing of the wind and in the
chill of winter - we remember you.

At the opening of the buds and in the
warmth of summer - we remember you.

At the rusting of the leaves and in the
beauty of autumn - we remember you.

As long as we live, you too will live:
for you are now a part of us,
as we remember you.

When we are lost and sick of heart -
we remember you.

When we have joy we crave to share -
we remember you.

When we have decisions that are
difficult to make - we remember you.

When we have achievements that are
based on you - we remember you.

As long as we live, you too will live:
for you are now part of us,
as we remember you.


I am sorry for your loss! I hope you are able to find a suitable poem and that you enjoy all of the submissions from the DISers.

 

[dmslush]

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 afaid to die
for I am waiting for you in the sky!

 

[agnes!]

My sympathies on your loss.

Do you have a sweet/funny story about your friend? Something she did or said that still makes you chuckle? Maybe you could write that up for either the scrapbook or for your personal letter. It might be nice for the family to remember something sweet/funny in the midst of all the loss.

If the family is Christian, there are some Bible quotes that they might find comforting...

"Love will never come to an end....
In a word, there are three things that last for ever: faith, hope and love; but the greatest of these is love." (2 Corinthians 13:8, 13:13)

"...and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes."(Revelations 7:17)
"He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be an end to death, and to mourning and crying and pain; for the old order has passed away."(Revelations 21:4)

And Psalm 23 is always comforting.

I think its nice to send something a couple of weeks after all the initial shock has worn off, a couple of weeks after the funeral.
When the family is sitting there wondering if anybody else misses their loved one, it's nice to get a fresh flower bouquet or a letter about them.
It's a comfort to know that others are also going through a grieving process, that others remember your loved one and that she is *not* forgotten.

Again, my sympathies to you and yours,
agnes!