Squelch of the bladder-wrack waiting for the sea, An editor, publisher, poet, and humorist, Thomas Hood was born in London, the son of a bookseller. One of Shakespeare’s most famous songs, and much parodied and pastiched, ‘Full Fathom Five’ from The Tempest is sung by the fairy Ariel to the young Ferdinand, to tell him that his father is apparently dead and lying thirty feet below, at the bottom of the ocean, following the tempest of the play’s title and the ensuing shipwreck. More properly known as Ariel’s song from The Tempest, ‘Full fathom five thy father lies’ is about Ferdinand’s father, who is believed to have been the victim of a shipwreck and lie at the bottom of the ocean. Full fathom five thy father lies; Beautiful poem by Henry Van Dyke, sometimes attributed to Victor Hugo. 3. This poem says that even though death is powerful, it cannot control everything. to look at the speaker. Came out to look at me –, And Frigates – in the Upper Floor Linked In. This fabulous shadow only the sea keeps.”. Went past my simple Shoe – In summer silver cool and still; Through the beholder’s heart in heavy sighs. But in Spenser’s poem, the poet ended with the reassuring thought of immortality and the existence of God. Some of them celebrate life at sea, and other poems are about the difficulties of making a living from the water. A moving funeral verse about death and the afterlife. Your loved one’s memorial service should reflect his or her personality. Ding-dong. Why do the waves ask me This little-known gem of a poem picks up on the motif present in Spenser’s sonnet mentioned above: what should the poet write on the sand for future generations to read? Then roller into roller curled But when is the sea not the sea? If you find yourself facing this dilemma for the first time, consider the following piece of advice. their declaration to the sand ? Extended Hempen Hands – The speaker says, “Tonight I can snatch their talk from the faint surf’s drone.” If you are looking for a unique piece to share, consider this one by Derek Walcott. But came the waves and washed it away: Of his bones are coral made; “Death Shall Have No Dominion” by Dylan Thomas . One stanza reads, “He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin, But his presence should remind us we may need his like again. In this poem, a man becomes frustrated that all his friends and companions are gone, but he hears their voices whispering to him from the ocean. On the dead waters of that passionless sea, Like a gorged sea-bird, slept with folded wings, That wore the thin grey surface, like a veil. Stretch out at us from Shilla Mill. The poem includes the lines, “Once more on the deck I stand, of my own swift-gliding craft: Set sail! 7. For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier’s part, Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.”, This poem is very similar to the third one on our list. And feathery slate was black in rain, And there were spring-faced cherubs that did sleep. And thundered down the rocky bay, Swallow’d her steps like a pursuing grave. And golden sand was brown again, calls upon the sea to ‘whirl up’ and cover the rocks with its ‘pools of fir’, classic poems about holidays and vacations, superb collection of hilariously bad poetry by the great and good, The Secret Library: A Book-Lovers’ Journey Through Curiosities of History, The Great War, The Waste Land and the Modernist Long Poem. If your mom dedicated her life to serving a favorite charity, make sure the memorial donations go to that non-profit. COVID-19 tip: If you're officiating a virtual funeral using a service like GatheringUs, you can still share your poems with your online guests. Grew deep and tufted to the edge; “The Old Sailor” by Margaret E. Sangster, Besides sharing your favorite poetry, you may also want to tell whether you would like to be buried or cremated. After his father died in 1811, Hood worked in a countinghouse until illness forced him to move to Dundee, Scotland, to recover with relatives. And past my Bodice – too –, And made as He would eat me up – Read the full poem by clicking the link above. To Ralph, Vasey, Alistair, Biddy, John and me. Contemporary Poems For a Sailor’s Funeral, Your loved one’s memorial service should reflect his or her personality. If your loved one found magic and beauty in the ocean, this may be the appropriate poem for his or her funeral service. Find the poem that sends the right message and tone for your loved one’s end-of-life services. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish, and check out our cookie policy for more information. There Is No Night Without A Dawning by Helen Steiner Rice This short poem is a popular choice for funerals because it reminds us that despite the death of someone we cared about, the darkness of our grief will pass. Regardless of the use, here are some to consider. For I myself shall like to this decay, It says, “I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by; And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking, And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.”. There are plenty of old poems that would be perfect for a sailor’s funeral. Don’t they get tired of repeating Some of them celebrate life at sea, and other poems are about the difficulties of making a living from the water. This link will open in a new window. This short poem may be used poignantly at the funeral of your loved one. . As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. And past my Apron – and my Belt And then – I started – too …. Instead, he states, “Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark! This lengthy poem decries the fact that politicians lie in state after they die. Still, others are about deaths that occur at sea. “A Life on the Ocean Wave” by Epes Sargent, 7. When it’s a symbol for carnal longings – as this poem appears to be. How do you say goodbye to the one you loved? Ezra Pound produced a loose … 8. It describes standing by the sea and seeing a boat sail off into the horizon. Again I wrote it with a second hand, Cities not built to last Cake's blog posts contain affiliate links and we earn commission from purchases made through these links. Housman, who became an atheist while he was still a teenager, can off no such consolation here. William Shakespeare, ‘Full Fathom Five’. Dickinson is using the sea as a metaphor for the (female) speaker’s sensual awakening: note the mermaids, which came out from the basement (the sea’s bed, or the subconscious?) Don’t overlook these decisions that are some of the most important that you will make in your life. Ralph, Vasey, Alistair, Biddy, John and I. We all must do it at some point in our lives. This poem says that even though death is powerful, it cannot control everything. “When The Last Hand Comes Aboard” by Richard John Scarr, 15. So if you’re ready to take to the sea, we’ll begin…. A small child asks the moon to follow his father’s ship as his dad leaves on a long journey. Blesséd be the springy turf, we pray, pray to thee, In Watchet in Somerset, there is a statue of the Ancient Mariner, marking the place where Coleridge conceived of the idea for the poem. Old sailors sometimes miss the sea and struggle when retired. He is the author of, among others, The Secret Library: A Book-Lovers’ Journey Through Curiosities of History and The Great War, The Waste Land and the Modernist Long Poem. Perhaps this would be an excellent choice to read at your loved one’s funeral. “Requiem” by Robert Louis Stevenson Ruby Archer was an American poet who was born far from the sea in Kansas City, Missouri. The critic Glenn Hughes called Hilda Doolittle or ‘H. Or my own name, to stay If you served in the Navy, you are probably great at taking care of details. And tamarisks were hung with light A servant called to battle when my country takes a stand.” This would be a beautiful piece to include on the memorial card for a loved one who was a sailor. Over the calmness of their features pale. And eke my name be wiped out likewise.’. Whilst death is hard to bear at first, this poem tells us that those who have died have found peace in a “brighter day.” Samuel Taylor Coleridge, ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’. Langston Hughes was known as being a pivotal poet during the Harlem Renaissance. He asks that his loved one includes this phrase on his headstone: “Here he lies where he longed to be; Home is the sailor, home from the sea.”, Herman Melville’s most famous work was the seafaring tale of “Moby Dick.” This poem was written to honor the novelist/sailor. The sailor is reminded repeatedly to “never leave a loose end” in this poem. the same questions I ask them ? This prayer/poem begins, “I am just a sailor, a protector of our land. This link will open in a new window.