The Poems

For those that are interested, these are the poems I used in my mother's service yesterday.

The poem I spoke aloud at the grave-side service was the poem written for the British Queen Mother's Funeral, titled "She is Gone"

You can shed tears that she is gone
or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back
or you can open your eyes and she all she's left.

Your heart can be empty because you can't see her
or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her and only that she's gone
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
or you can do what she'd want: smile open your eyes, love and go on.

The poem on the inside of the program was written by Katherine Butler Hathaway.

She is their earth.
She is the one they can count on
For the things that matter most of all.
She is their food and their bed
And the extra blanket
When it grows cold in the night;
She is their warmth and
Their health and their shelter.