Poem in Memory of a Dad

Losing a parent may be one of life’s most difficult experiences, but sometimes finding the perfect poem in memory of a dad can make the task of eulogizing a beloved father just a little bit easier. A lot of memorial poems are available free on the Internet. If none of those are the right fit, it isn’t terribly hard to write a poem to capture the precious memories of a dad who has passed away.

Memorial Poetry Collections

A Midwestern wife and mother gathered this collection of classic memorial poems by authors such as Helen Steiner Rice, James Whitcomb Riley, and E. Brenneman. Some of the more well-known anonymous poems are also included in the collection, and all are appropriate for use during a funeral service, in a funeral bulletin, or in a special memorial photo album. The one disadvantage to this collection of poetry is that the memorial poems are very generally, and not specifically focused on the loss or memories of a father. These could work equally well for a lost spouse, a grandparent who has passed away, or a beloved aunt who is now deceased.

Poems About Fatherhood

Poets.org has a great list of links to poetry about fathers. These poems are by very famous poets like E.E. Cummings, Sylvia Plath, and Seamus Heaney. The presence of poems by poets like Sylvia Plath means that not all of these poems are the sentimental and heartwarming variety, and many discuss very conflicting feelings about fathers or the role of a father.

Since these poems in their entirety may not be appropriate for public sharing at a memorial service, it might be better to incorporate suitable quotes from these poems into a larger eulogy or homily. Father and child relationships are not always idyllic and sweet, and these conflicted poems may help with unresolved feelings and issues from a father’s life.

Father’s Day Poems

While the thought of an occasion such as Father’s Day may be very painful right now, poems written especially for that holiday may work very well as part of a funeral service. Funmuch.com offers a simple collection of poems about fathers. Most of these are very straightforward, and some offer very emotional imagery of a small child’s feelings for his father. Reading these may require some tissue to catch the tears, but there are quite a few poems that really capture the love between a father and his children.

Father’s Hands

Father’s Hands has a collection of Christian poems and stories for those seeking a more spiritual poem. This site also features some stories, but not all are about fathers or fatherhood. The poem, “Dad, I Miss You,” is about a child whose father died when he or she was very young, but it could be used in pieces or as a whole to express how tremendous a loss the everyday love a father is when it is gone. “The Whispers of a Child’s Love” is about how quickly children grow up, and is written from the perspective of a parent, but could be a great way to share memories of some of the special times like announcing a marriage, asking for the car for the first time, or telling a parent that they are going to be a grandparent.

The story, “Grandpa’s Hands,” is a wonderful little story about a grandfather telling his grandchild about what he will use his hands for once he gets to heaven. This story could be easily adapted for a father’s memorial service by substituting “Father” for “Grandfather” in the story, and it includes some lovely sentiments about God welcoming our loved ones home at the end of their lives.

Poem in Memory of a Dad

Many free poems about dads are available on the Internet for use at a funeral, memorial service, or other tribute event. While not all of these poems would fit every one, some can be tweaked to fit the situation or could serve as the starting point for a piece of original poetry. Poetry can be a great way to work through grief, and to begin coping with the loss of a parent.

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