Poem For Grieving Friend

Poems to Soothe a Grieving Heart

Grieving allows us to heal, to remember with love rather than pain.
It is a sorting process.
One by one you let go of things that are gone
and you mourn for them.
One by one you take hold of the things that have become a part of
who you are and build again.
~Rachel Naomi Remen

Rachel Naomi Remen helped me turn toward grief instead of running from it. If your life hasn’t given you space to fully grieve, it’s not too late. Write a letter to the one you miss. Talk with a bereavement counselor or a trusted friend. Light a candle or offer flowers on a birthday or deathday. Eight years after my husband’s death, I still need Rachel Remen’s wise advice.

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Those who will not slip beneath
the still surface on the well of grief

turning downward through its black water
to the place we cannot breathe

will never know the source from which we drink,
the secret water, cold and clear,

nor find in the darkness glimmering
the small round coins
thrown by those who wished for something else.

David Whyte follows grief down and in to the source of life and renewal. If we are willing to dive, we find treasures or coins in the dark, thrown by someone who, just like us, wished for a different outcome.

During the two years my husband Vic was sick, I was forced to surrender to what I did not want. Days after doctors said Vic would die within hours, he was still breathing. "Maybe he won’t die," I said quietly to a friend who was with us. "No, Elaine. He is dying," my friend said as he hugged me gently. Vic died forty-five minutes after our youngest son arrived at his bedside. Our son’s arrival in the dark room that night was a glistening jewel.

I will not die an unlived life.
I will not live in fear
of falling or catching fire.
I choose to inhabit my days,
to allow my living to open me,
to make me less afraid,
more accessible,
to loosen my heart
until it becomes a wing,
a torch, a promise.
I choose to risk my significance;
to live so that which came to me as seed
goes to the next as blossom
and that which came to me as blossom,
goes on as fruit.
~ Dawna Markova, from I Will Not Die an Unlived Life: Reclaiming Purpose and Passion

Ethereal wisps of joy, curiosity, and hope pulled me toward life. After absorbing the rawest grief, it was time to find new life. That meant taking risks. It mean a defiance toward grief, a will to live even if it hurt. I held my fear close like a wounded child and began searching. If I hadn’t cast seeds, many of which did not sprout, there would be no blossoms or fruits today. I had promised Vic I would find a way to have a good life on my own. I had promised myself.

Your grief for what you’ve lost lifts a mirror
up to where you’re bravely working.
Expecting the worst, you look, and instead
here’s the joyful face you’ve been wanting to see.
Your hand opens and closes and opens and closes.
If it were always a fist or always stretched open,
you’d be paralyzed.
Your deepest presence is in every small contracting
and expanding,
the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated
as bird wings.
~ Rumi

The image of the opening and closing hand reminds me of a butterfly slowly beating its damp wings after emerging from the chrysalis. Rumi helped me feel the love within grief. He helped me feel the gratitude that arose when I softened my grip.

I had the idea that the world’s so full of pain
it must sometimes make a kind of singing.
And that the sequence helps, as much as order helps—
First an ego, and then pain, and then the singing.
~ Robert Haas ("Faint Music," in Sun Under Wood: New Poems (Hopewell, N.J.: Ecco Press, 1996), 41.)

Vic loved these lines and so do I. Our personal pain becomes part of a universal human lament, a chanting, a deep Aum that vibrates with the universe.  And the sequence matters. First the ego’s suffering, then a recognition of our pain, and finally a celestial song.

My blog Poems to Grieve By has been my most popular post for years. Today, I share five more poems that helped me along the way. I'd love to know about poems that helped you face grief or move forward in life. I also recommend an illustrated version of Rumi's poem The Guest House by Gavin Aung Than who manages to be both respectful and hysterically funny. Have any of the characters in his drawings arrived at your guest house?

Dear Elaine, This is such a beautiful poignant post! Thank you so much for sharing more soothing poems of hope and solace with us. Each and every line of your selected poems, opens the eyes of the heart. As a poet I’ve been greatly moved by many poems, yet today for some reason I’ve found myself reading Pablo Neruda’s ā€˜Tonight I Can Write (The Saddest Lines)’ over and over again. Language will fail me miserably if I try to describe how this poem affects me, so I’ll leave the poem below for others to delight in.

See how your own lyrical words shine, and shimmer dear poet! For all through your articles, and wonderful book, you write with the mystic hand and heart of the poet. Oh my goddess! How my heart leaps in joy to discover the glistening jewels you leave upon many a page. Thank you dearly for scattering your beautiful seeds afar, I do believe they’ve sprouted in many a heart. I will leave Neruda’s poem here for others to delight in. Bright spring wishes, Deborah.

Tonight I Can Write (The Saddest Lines) by Pablo Neruda

Tonight I can write the saddest lines.

Write, for example, ā€˜The night is starry and the stars are blue and shiver in the distance.'

The night wind revolves in the sky and sings.

Tonight I can write the saddest lines.
I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too.

Through nights like this one I held her in my arms.
I kissed her again and again under the endless sky.

Poem For Grieving Friend

She loved me, sometimes I loved her too.
How could one not have loved her great still eyes.

Tonight I can write the saddest lines.
To think that I do not have her. To feel that I have lost her.

To hear the immense night, still more immense without her.
And the verse falls to the soul like dew to the pasture.

What does it matter that my love could not keep her.
The night is starry and she is not with me.

This is all. In the distance someone is singing. In the distance.
My soul is not satisfied that it has lost her.

My sight tries to find her as though to bring her closer.
My heart looks for her, and she is not with me.

The same night whitening the same trees.
We, of that time, are no longer the same.

I no longer love her, that's certain, but how I loved her.
My voice tried to find the wind to touch her hearing.

Another's. She will be another's. As she was before my kisses.
Her voice, her bright body. Her infinite eyes.

I no longer love her, that's certain, but maybe I love her.
Love is so short, forgetting is so long.

Because through nights like this one I held her in my arms
my soul is not satisfied that it has lost her.

Though this be the last pain that she makes me suffer
and these the last verses that I write for her.

♄

Your wisdoms and beautiful poetry are truly touching Elaine. Your life experiences and grief process has helped you become the teacher for those who seek enlightenment when they walk the path that you have. And some great enlightenment for all who will some day face those same challenges. You are a warrior. šŸ™‚

7:58 am on April 6, 2022

Thank you, Debby. I'm glad to share what I've learned and what others have generously shared with me. Enlightenment is an ultimate goal after years of meditation, study, and sitting with spiritual teachers. I'm nowhere close to what that big word means, but I've learned something through living the lessons I've been given. Thank you for your kind words and for your work of turning life's lessons into something valuable. I hope things will ease in your world soon.



This is Grief: A Poem for Grieving Hearts

During my grieving process, I have found two things that have been critical in helping me heal:

• Writing out my feelings, while I’m feeling them. 

• Connecting with others who have experienced (or are currently experiencing) this same type of pain

I’ve decided to go against my initial decision to keep this poem to myself solely due to reason #2 – I’m not the only one hurting. If I can find comfort through the words of other grievers than surely there are people out there who will find comfort in mine. This poem is raw & deep. It’s not sugar-coated by any means. It doesn’t offer a solution – because I don’t have one, nor do I think there is one. Each line is meant to depict the raw truth behind the heartbreak of grief.

If you’re a griever – I hope that you find comfort in my words. You aren’t alone. This isn’t easy, I know.

If you know a griever – I hope this poem helps you understand the pain that your friend/family member is experiencing. This isn’t easy, I know.



We'll See This Through

They say this, too, shall pass,
They say grief eventually fades.
But those sayings are of little comfort
When you're living through such sad days.

They say that time heals all,
And this much I know is true.
So hang in there, my dearest friend,
And together we'll see this through


Time

Time brings perspective.
Time eases the pain.
Time heals the heart.
Time revives hope.

In time, you'll learn to embrace life again.


Whatever You Need

Whatever you need,
Whatever we can do.
We want you to know
That we're here for you.

If you just want to talk
Or need a shoulder to cry on,
We want you to know that
We're here for you to rely on.

However lonely you feel,
You definitely are not alone.
We are only as far away
As the nearest phone.

So don't hesitate to call,
No matter what you need.
We'll rush to your side
With all Heaven's speed.


Our Deepest Sympathy

To send our deepest sympathy
Just doesn't seem like enough.
We know how your grief must burden you,
How this time must be so rough.

But try to believe in your heart of hearts,
That your pain won't last forever,
That sadness will lighten a little each day,
and you'll eventually feel much better.

When that day comes, your memories
Will focus on the good, not the bad.
Instead of feeling burdened by tears,
You'll cherish the happy times you had.


He's Only Gone on Ahead

Poem For Grieving Friend

He's only gone on ahead of you,
Not just left you behind.
Although you can't be with him right now,
He lives on in your heart and mind.

The day will come when you'll meet again
On Heaven's distant shore,
And the two of you will walk hand in hand
Together forever more.


Trust in God's Plan

It's hard to understand
Why God takes those we love.
Does He need them more than we do,
In Heaven up above?

No one on earth can pretend
To know what's in God's plan.
All we can do is take it on faith
And trust we'll see our loved ones again.

Family Death Poems for Specific Loss

Words bring comfort especially when they use specific language to capture a unique relationship with these poems for bereaved people.


Marriage Is Forever

This condolence poem for a deceased husband or wife relays the lasting bond of a husband and wife and explores the feeling of grieving a spouse.

I take you
From this day forward,
To love and to miss,
For better or for worse,
For emptiness or joyful memory,
In sadness and in grief,
Even after death has made us part.
I take you as my husband/wife
In death as I did in life,
Because our love is forever.


My Brother

My brother,
My friend,
My secret keeper.
You showed me how to live.
You taught me how to love.
You showed me when to give.
You taught me to rise above.
Although you've gone away,
These lessons will all stay.
They are a part of me,
Just as you will always be.


Healing Hands

Heartbroken I will cry
Every day until I heal.
A life unlived here on Earth
Little one, you are loved.
In sadness, I'll find joy
Now I see you are always with me.
God's love holds my hand with yours.


A Loyal Companion

Loyalty was the priority,
From me to him
And him to me.

A companion by my side,
He ran and jumped and played
Always ready for a ride.

Under all that fur and fluff,
My doggy trained me well
That no amount of joy is ever enough.

Love is the priority,
From me to him
And him to me.

Sympathy Poems Offer Words From the Heart

People grieve in different ways, and it can be difficult to choose just the right words to express your sympathy and support. Whether you write a poem you wrote or send one written by someone else, make sure the sentiment rings true. If the verse touches your heart, it will likely touch the heart of the person who is bereaved and bring a little comfort to ease her loss.



Poem of Grieving Loss of a Loved One

where would you go
that i cannot follow?
for how long must i wait
until we meet again?
what would i do
in times that i miss you?
where would i go
in times when i long to see you again?


the nights without you?

how do i bear
each morning that you’re not there?


shall i ever smile again?

will i ever laugh again?


will i ever face the world again

knowing that im not alone?

why must you leave me?
why must i cry these tears
when you’re not here
to wipe them all away?
why must i suffer
the empty days without my beloved?
why must i dream
without you by my side?
the days shall never be the same again
i will never be the same again
without you
the life of my soul,
the joy of my heart,
the light in my eyes,
the hope of my dreams,
the comfort of my lonely nights,


without you my beloved,

i grieve and cry,

i weep with all my soul


i let go of all of me that you took away with you

and will always remain in me
wherever i may go


i will look forward to each brand new day

thankful for all that i’ve had and will always have

believing and hanging on


believing that life will go on

it can’t help but go on

and in so going


there really is no end

only mornings and evenings
and life that never ever ends.

The above Poem on Grieving Loss of a Loved One was written by Jocelyn Soriano and included in her book IN YOUR HOUR OF GRIEF.  For all of those who have loved ones who died and left, may you find comfort.  For all of those who mourn and grieve, may your bereavement pave the way to healing and for new insights towards eternity and the things we carry with us wherever we may go.

When You're Grieving The Loss of a Loved One

Grief, particularly the sadness of grieving the loss of a loved one, is one of the darkest hours we could ever experience. It is something that goes beyond our comprehension, something so devastating it destroys the most beautiful dreams we have ever had with and for our beloved ones.

How does one go on after such a loss? How does one survive the empty vacuum our loved ones have left behind? Is there any valid meaning we could possibly attribute to death?

Let this book be like a comforting friend for you, someone who knows just how painful it is to experience what you're going through. I may not be physically with you, but through this book's comforting words, may you be hugged with a warmth that reaches your heart, soothing the aches within, whispering words of hope and of a renewed sense of connection with that part of you that seemed to have been suddenly lost.


Welcome to the ultimate collection of pet loss quotes. We have more than 80 helpful and heartwarming memorial quotes, inscription and epitaph ideas, poems, Bible verses, saying, and other pet loss quotes to help you honor and remember your special friend.

Pet Loss Quotes & Poems

Whether you are looking for some comfort after the loss of your friend, choosing what to inscribe on a pet urn or headstone, posting of your affection for your pet on social media, or creating a memorial tattoo or keepsake, you'll find the perfect pet loss quotes and poems below.

We've broken down each type of quote into helpful categories. Read on for the perfect memorial quote, poem, or phrase to honor your beloved pet.

• Pet Epitaphs & Inscriptions

• Short Pet Loss Quotes

• Dog Loss Quotes

• Cat Loss Quotes

• Pet Loss Poems

• Bible Verses for Pet Loss

• Heartwarming Pet Memorial Quotes

Pet Epitaphs & Inscriptions

Pet epitaphs are brief quotes that are typically used on a pet urn, headstone, gravestone, garden stone, sympathy jewelry, or pet memorial tattoo. It's a way to introduce the name and dates while implying that the pet is no longer with us.

Here are some examples of pet epitaphs and inscriptions, from popular standards to unique and creative ideas.

• In Loving Memory

• In Memoriam

• Forever Missed

• Faithful Companion

• Always In Our Hearts

• In Remembrance

• Forever Loved, Never Forgotten

• My Best Friend

• Faithful, Loyal, and Loving Companion

• In Cherished Memories of

• Though Gone From Sight To Memory Dear

• I’ll Miss You Always

• A Faithful Friend

• Always By My Side

• Friends Forever

• Always On My Mind, Forever In My Heart

• Missing You

• Until We Meet Again

Short Pet Loss Quotes

Poem For Grieving Friend

Here are some short pet loss quotes that you can read or use for a memorial tribute. Many pet owners love this pet memorial stone, which is engraved with the pet's name, dates, photograph, and a short quote like one of the ones featured below. You can also get plaques, mugs, coasters and more custom engraved at Northwest Gifts.


Because someone we loved is in heaven,
there's a little bit of heaven in our home


Sometimes the smallest things
take up the most room in your heart


Your wings were ready but my heart was not


You were my favorite hello and my hardest goodbye


My heart will always wear the paw prints left by you


No matter how bad my day was
you always made me smile


No longer by my side
but forever in my heart


You left your paw prints on my heart


You have left paw prints on our hearts
that will last a lifetime


The song is ended,
but the melody lingers on
Irving Berlin


Grief is the price we pay for love
Queen Elizabeth II


Don't cry because it's over;
smile because it happened
Dr. Seuss

When words are most empty,
tears are most apt
Max Lucado


Death ends a life,
not a relationship
Jack Lemmon


A silent thought, a secret tear
Keeps your memory ever dear


Though absent you are very near
Still loved, still missed, and very dear


Love and remembrance last forever


You still live on in the hearts and minds
Of the loving family you left behind


We know you'd be with us today
If heaven wasn't so far away


The greatest thing you’ll ever learn
Is just to love and be loved in return

Dog Loss Quotes

Dogs are rightly called man's best friend. The love and companionship of a faithful, devoted dog is unlike any other relationship in the world. It's a special privilege to have known and loved a pet like this.

Here are some of the best dog loss quotes that try to convey what we feel for our beloved pups, and how they feel towards us.


"Nobody can fully understand the meaning of love unless he’s owned a dog. A dog can show you more honest affection with a flick of his tail than a man can gather through a lifetime of handshakes."
– Gene Hill


"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole."
– Roger Caras


"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."
– Will Rogers


"The dog is the most faithful of animals and would be much esteemed were it not so common. Our Lord God has made His greatest gifts the commonest."
– Martin Luther


"The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog."
– M.K. Clinton


"Dogs’ lives are short, too short, but you know that going in. You know the pain is coming, you’re going to lose a dog, and there’s going to be great anguish, so you live fully in the moment with her, never fail to share her joy or delight in her innocence, because you can’t support the illusion that a dog can be your lifelong companion. There’s such beauty in the hard honesty of that, in accepting and giving love while always aware that it comes with an unbearable price."
– Dean Koontz


ā€œOnce you've had a wonderful dog, a life without one is a life diminished.ā€
– Dean Koonz


"Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really."
– Agnes Sligh Turnbull


Poem For Grieving Friend

"Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made."
– Roger A. Caras


"I guess you don’t really own a dog, you rent them, and you have to be thankful that you had a long lease."
– Joe Garagiola


"To call him a dog hardly seems to do him justice, though inasmuch as he had four legs, a tail, and barked, I admit he was, to all outward appearances. But to those who knew him well, he was a perfect gentleman."
– Hermione Gingold


"Dogs are always good and full of selfless love. They are undiluted vessels of joy who never, ever deserve anything bad that happens to them."
– Steven Rowley


ā€œA dog wags his tail with his heart.ā€
– Martin Buxbaum

Cat Loss Quotes

Cats are dear friends in a very special way. They tend to maintain their independence, but deep down we know it is just an act. There is nothing so cozy as snuggling up on the sofa with a soft pillow, a warm blanket, and a purring kitten.

Here are some of the best cat loss quotes to help you in your time of grief.


ā€œTime spent with cats is never wasted.ā€
– Sigmund Freud


ā€œWhat greater gift than the love of a cat?ā€
– Charles Dickens


ā€œThere are no ordinary cats.ā€
– Colette


ā€œA meow is a massage to the heart.ā€
– Stuart McMillan


"Kittens are angels with whiskers."
– Alexis Flora Hope


"No one can truly understand the bond we form with the cats we love until they experience the loss of one."
– Unknown


ā€œSometimes we aren't meant to get over someone, and we go on living a little bit emptier.ā€
– Leo Christopher


"I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul."
– Jean Cocteau


"Cats leave paw prints in your heart, forever and always."
– Unknown

Pet Loss Poems

Poetry can move the soul where mere words do not. These simple poems may not be highbrow art, but they address the loss of a pet directly and with gentle pathos.

Not Forgotten

You are not forgotten, loved one
Nor will you ever be
As long as life and memory last
We will remember thee

Memories

Memory is a lovely lane,
Where hearts are ever true,
A lane I so often travel down,
Because it leads to you.

A Silent Thought

A silent thought, a secret tear,
Keeps his memory ever dear.
Time eases the edge of grief,
Memory turns back every leaf.

Missing Your Playful Paws

Missing your unconditional love and playful paws,
We are now apart.
You're gone from our lives,
But never from our heart.

The Empty Chair

Your favorite chair is empty now,
Where you would lie and sleep.
But the memory of our happy times
Is mine to always keep.

My Forever Pet

There's something missing in my home,
I feel it day and night,
I know it will take time and strength
before things feel quite right.

But just for now, I need to mourn,
My heart… it needs to mend.
Though some may say, ā€œIt's just a pet,ā€
I know I've lost a friend.

You've brought such laughter to my home,
and richness to my days.
A constant friend through joy or loss
with gentle, loving ways.

Poem For Grieving Friend

Companion, friend, and confidante,
A friend I won't forget.
You'll live forever in my heart,
My sweet, forever pet.

– Susanne Taylor

I Loved You Best

So this is where we part, My Friend,
and you'll run on, around the bend,
gone from sight, but not from mind,
new pleasures there you'll surely find.

I will go on, I'll find the strength,
life measures quality, not its length.
One long embrace before you leave,
share one last look, before I grieve.

There are others, that much is true,
but they be they, and they aren't you.
And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,
will remember well all you've taught.

Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,
the fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.
And as you journey to your final rest,
take with you this… I loved you best.

– Jim Willis

Bible Verses for Pet Loss

For Christians, God is our source of comfort in times of trial, grief, and loss. His word encourages us and supports us even in the midst of grieving for a beloved pet. Here are some Bible verses to reflect on as you mourn the loss of your pet. Below you'll find some interesting an encouraging Scriptures about animals in general and about grief and loss in particular.

Scriptures About Animals

God has always shown care for his creatures, from entrusting their care to mankind in the opening verses of the Bible, to laws regarding the proper treatment of animals, and all the way through to Revelation where ā€œevery creatureā€ joins together to praise and honor the Lamb of God. May these Scriptures about animals provide insight and encouragement to you during this difficult time.

Job 12:7-10

7 "But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
or let the fish in the sea inform you.
9 Which of all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?
10 In his hand is the life of every creature
and the breath of all mankind.

Psalm 36:6

6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.

For every animal of the forest is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird in the mountains,
and the insects in the fields are mine.

Isaiah 11:6-9

6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling[a together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.

Revelation 5:13

13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!"

Scriptures About Loss

While the Bible doesn't specifically address the death of a pet, God's Word does provide encouragement and hope during times of trial. May these passages be a balm for your soul as you grieve the loss of your dear pet.

Psalm 23:4

4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

Psalm 46:1-2

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.

Matthew 5:4

4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

1 Peter 5:6-7

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Revelation 21:4-5

5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

Heartwarming Pet Memorial Quotes

Sometimes you just need a phrase to warm your heart and draw your mind back to all the happy memories you shared with your pet. Here are some of our favorite heartwarming pet memorial quotes.


You smiled with your eyes,
laughed with your tail,
and loved with your heart


If love could have saved you,
you would have lived forever


You have no idea the amount of happiness you brought into my life


I keep myself busy with the things I do,
but every time I pause, I still think of you


And tonight I'll fall asleep
with you in my heart


How lucky I am
to have something
that makes saying goodbye
so hard
A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

Not the least hard thing to bear
when they go from us,
these quiet friends,
is that they carry away with them
so many years of our own lives.
John Galsworthy

Pet Cremation Urns

When you've lost a beloved pet, it's natural to want to memorialize them in some way. This honors both the pet and the relationship you shared. Many of the pet loss quotes above can be used to personalize a memorial plaque, photo album, or necklace. The quotes can also be engraved on many beautiful cremation urns.


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