One good way to prepare yourself to writ a funeral poem is to read some funeral poems written by others, for others. This can help put you on the right track to write a funeral poem that is personal that you can custom craft to fit the person that you will remember with a poem for a funeral.
Do some research by asking questions to friends and the family of the deceased. You my have you own memories to draw from, but is always a good idea to get the influence of others when constructing a poem for a funeral.
The Subject:
Commonly known as the ‘Theme’ of the poem, this is the important starting point and central point of your work. In the case of a poem for a funeral, the subject is the person who has died. The poem might be more about general life and how the life of the deceased has effected others. You decide what part of the life that was lived, your words will get across to the world at large, via your funeral poem? Is it a story, an experience, a description of events. Or a funeral poem in description of the person themselves?
An interesting way to take the jump from this point is writing down the words, phrases or sentences that come to your mind when you are thinking about the the life that was lived and what parts to include in your funeral poem. Don’t worry if nothing sounds or feels right, just write it down for now, you have to star somewhere when writting a poem for a funeral.
The Feeling:
A funeral poem, no matter how descriptive it may be, is not to be used to state the obvious. We all know that the Joe was funny, for example. What you need to express in your funeral poem is what you felt when Joe made you laugh. What emotions did he evoke within you? What were you going through at the time and how did seeing Joe, change or enhance your feelings at that moment of time? With your words, you have to convey what you feel or felt. The readers have to understand the depth of what you were going through. A poem for a funeral is essentially about the emotions of the poet.
The Mood:
How do you want the funeral poem to portray your thoughts, ideas and feelings via this poem for a funeral? Do you want to make it a serious funeral poem, or a funny one, a sarcastic one or an irreverent one? Remember the grief that many at the funeral poem reading are feeling. The mood can often help you convey the feelings more effectively.
Once you have your feeling words in place, you can choose different moods of the poem for a funeral and try to write a sentence or two that contains the theme and the feeling in these various moods. Which mood do you like the best? Which mood conveys what you feel about the deceased more effectively?
The Style:
Choose a style of writing the funeral poem from among several – from classical to the modern contemporary styles of writing poetry, there are many to choose from. Pick a style which is easier for you to work with. Most modern poets often use the free verse style of poetry. Although, to the beginner, this style may not have a formal structure and sound easy to write in, look closely at the work of popular free verse poets and you will find a basic form lurking somewhere.
An exercise to try out at this juncture is to write down your thoughts about something or someone in free verse and then trying to see if you can put those lines into another well-known structure or style of writing poetry. Perhaps a few changes here and there and it might do the trick. Try doing that with two or three styles and find one which you are more comfortable with. This process will help you revise your work and find your style at the same time.
The Audience:
Who are you writing poem for a funeral for? The audience of the funeral poem can help you choose the language, the style and the words to be used in your piece. Will the poem be read at a funeral or memorial. A small or large group. What is the audience feeling in relationship to the death. Was it a young person who died tragically or the peaceful end to a life well lived. Every death is unique and you need to keep in mind what people are feeling when constructing a poem for a funeral.
Read out your funeral poem to a few of your friends, relatives, and neighbors etc who fit in with your description of your target audience. Ask for their feedback and what they felt about the funeral poem. Don’t take negative feedback or criticism to heart – it is in fact a learning experience all the way. Try and try till you get it just right.
Tips for writing poems for funerals
Funeral Poem Writing Tip #1
Use your fond memories and think about the persons special personality, style and taste. You might mention a good deed or accomplishment when writing a funeral poem. It’s a good idea to create a list or basic outline for your poem. Its good to dive deep into the roots of a personality as a bases for the funeral poem.
Funeral Poem Writing Tip #2 All poems need not rhyme. This is especially true for funeral poems. Rhyming takes much skill and often comes off wishy-washy and adds humor. When writing a poem for a funeral it is OK to have a little humor, but take care not to have too much, after all it is a funeral. So if your good and care is used a rhyme can help gracefully link verses of a poem for a funeral.
Funeral Poem Writing Tip #3 Refer to the noted you have taken when you interviewed survivors. Their memories can be woven into a poem that reflects the true essence of the life that was lived. As you write continue to good back and read your words aloud. This is the best way to get the words to flow, and to practice your delivery of the funeral poem. Subtle changes or rearranging words is often all it takes to make the connections that will connect with the hearts of others as the funeral poem is read.
Funeral Poem Writing Tip #4 If the poem conger's up emotions and fond reflections, then you are on the right track to a well written poem for a funeral. When the tissues come out at the reading of the poems, as peoples fond memories are brought to the surface, that's when you know you have hit it in the head.
Funeral Poem Writing Tip #5 Write a funeral poem that exemplifies the deceased personality. Use sensory descriptive language whenever possible. Try to include a sight, smell, sound, touch and taste if possible, because vivid details convey emotion.
Funeral Poem Writing Tip #6 Share your poem with a trusted friend or family member who can listen with a neutral ear. Ask for constructive feedback, focusing on whether the poem is moving as well as free of out of character references. Keep in mind the religion and beliefs of the deceased and take care not to inadvertently add you own beliefs and spiritual values.
Funeral Poem Writing Tip #7 Funeral poems are dedication composed by the people close to the dead person’s heart. Some opt to use these poems as part of their eulogies. Others might just read it during the wake or some may even refuse to share the composition to the crowd. They just keep it for themselves as part of their memories with the dead person.
Whatever the purpose for writing a funeral poem, it does not change these words are woven into an art form and are written due to the sadness of people losing a loved one.
