Losing a father is a profound experience, leaving a void that words often struggle to fill. Poetry, with its unique ability to express complex emotions, can offer solace and a path towards healing. Whether you’re seeking words for a eulogy, a personal reflection, or simply a way to connect with your grief, poetry for the death of a father can be a powerful source of comfort. This article explores several poems that capture the essence of loss, love, and remembrance.
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A grieving person looking at a photo
Poems to Honor a Father’s Memory
The following poems offer diverse perspectives on grief and the enduring bond between a father and child. They range from expressions of faith and acceptance to reflections on a father’s life lessons and the pain of parting.
He Only Takes the Best (Author Unknown)
This poem offers comfort through the lens of faith, suggesting that death is a gentle transition to a higher plane.
God saw that he was getting tired,
A cure was not to be.
So He put His arms around him
and whispered, “Come with Me.”
With tearful eyes, we watched him suffer,
And saw him fade away.
Although we loved him dearly,
We could not make him stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
Hard working hands to rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us
He only takes “the best.”
Dad (Author Unknown)
This simple yet heartfelt poem focuses on the enduring memories of a father’s love and presence.
We’ll always remember
That special smile,
That caring heart,
That warm embrace,
You always gave us.
You being there
For Mom and us
Through good and bad times,
No matter what.
We’ll always remember
You Dad because
They’ll never be another one
To replace you in our hearts,
And the love we will always
Have for you.
My Father, My Father (Dakota Ellerton)
This poignant poem expresses a child’s plea for their father to remain, capturing the raw emotion of impending loss.
My father, my father,
I love he,
my father, my father,
made me see,
how beautiful this world really can be.
My father, my father,
said to me,
my daughter my daughter,
come see me,
I wont be around forever, and I have things that must be.
My father, my father,
don’t die on me.
Life Lessons (Joanna Fuchs)
This poem celebrates a father’s role as a teacher and guide, highlighting the lasting impact of his values and wisdom.
You may have thought I didn’t see,
Or that I hadn’t heard,
Life lessons that you taught to me,
But I got every word.
Perhaps you thought I missed it all,
And that we’d grow apart,
But Dad, I picked up everything,
It’s written on my heart.
Without you, Dad, I wouldn’t be
The (woman)(man) I am today;
You built a strong foundation
No one can take away.
I’ve grown up with your values,
And I’m very glad I did;
So here’s to you, dear father,
From your forever grateful kid.
Broken Chain (Ron Tranmer)
This poem uses the metaphor of a broken chain to represent the loss felt within a family, offering hope for eventual reunion.
We little knew the day that
God was going to call your name.
In life we loved you dearly,
In death we do the same.
It broke our hearts to lose you
But you didn’t go alone.
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home.
You left us peaceful memories.
Your love is still our guide,
And though we cannot see you
You are always at our side.
Our family chain is broken
and nothing seems the same,
but as God calls us one by one
the chain will link again.
Our Father’s Garden (Author Unknown)
This poem beautifully portrays a father’s nurturing influence, comparing his love and guidance to the tending of a garden.
Our father kept a garden.
A garden of the heart;
He planted all the good things,
That gave our lives their start.
He turned us to the sunshine,
And encouraged us to dream:
Fostering and nurturing
The seeds of self-esteem.
And when the winds and rain came,
He protected us enough;
But not too much because he knew
We would stand up strong and tough.
His constant good example,
Always taught us right from wrong;
Markers for our pathway that will last a lifetime long.
We are our Fathers garden,
We are his legacy.
Thank you Dad we love you.
A family grieving together
Finding Comfort and Meaning
Poetry can be a powerful tool for navigating grief and finding meaning in loss. These poems offer a starting point for expressing your own emotions and honoring the memory of your father. Whether you find resonance in the words of others or feel inspired to write your own verse, poetry can provide a pathway towards healing and remembrance.