Most Commented Loss / Death Poems (1,049)

I lost a friend today and there’s so many things I wish I could say but I'm too late. I still remember the way you smiled. What I wouldn’t give for one more day. One more chance to heal your pain. I remember you loved the rain. You would run out and scream my name. I always knew you were brave. I left some roses on your grave. I was the only one to see the bruises on your face. When he came home you’d hide at my place. When he knocked on the door your heart would race but you always came back the next day. One of your secrets that I would never say. Your father came home drunk everyday. When he beat your mom you’d jump in the way. One day he forgot he loved you and didn’t stop. Someone called the cops and reported shots. I loved you so much and now it hurts to say. I lost a friend and her name was Jane.

THE CHILD: AN UNFORGOTTEN ROSE


Just because a rose dies of natures way
It doesn’t mean that the beauty of the rose is gone or forgotten
She is still there, with her beauty in the eyes that have seen her
You have seen a beautiful rose with your eyes
And for this she shall always be alive in your heart
So don’t be saddened; for all of nature’s wonderful beauties
must revolve to keep the hands of time from coming to an end






John N. R.

1994 Outstanding Poets of 1994; The National Library of Poetry

Are you as bad as some make you out to be?
The grim reaper, cheater of destiny
Enemy to joy and peace
The one that of long life many cheat
Are you that unwelcome one that awaits?
To take your victims to another place
Bringer of anguish, grief and pain to Adams race
Do you know those that you embrace?
Men look on with distaste
Do you take your victims down below?
Where some say infernal fires glow
Or do you take them up to the sky above?
To that place of joy, peace and love
Surely some of your victims you could release
Instead of them forever keep
Could you not send someone to tell of their estate?
After they have passed through your gates
But then maybe you are a welcome guest
Taking men to their eternal rest
That ever blissful land
Where no pain or sorrow afflict man
Should one anticipate your coming and wait?
Dressed and ready to enter those pearly gates
Or will you come and snatch the unwary one?
Do you take joy in bringing grief to man?
Should you be greeted with exultation?
Knowing it’s graduation to higher station

Death do you know one day you too shall die?
Shall you like your victims weep and cry?

heavy cool pallor
over this room
air fearfully still
yet windows, wide open

you came and you went
as you had a mind to
but this time your leaving
...has left us without you

hopin' rainbows of angels are watchin' our baby
and that she's smiling at us
and looking so proud
for that's the way we all feel about her
a loving dear spirit
that did livin' out loud

with beauty so rare
no finger can point it
at the difference that she made
when she entered a room

for the gleam in her eye
hot fire within her
was more than enough
to melt you away

there's a lump in our throats when we think about you
how you fought through the pain
and faced down the fear

teardrops are falling
'cause you're not around us
but you've touched our lives
you'll always be here

I know burdens
Always living in fear
When Lord all I needed was you near

But Your presence was so hopeless
There was though that monkey on my back
When all I wanted was to relax

Then I killed and I will kill
Only to repent
God just please make me forget

Those faces in my head the voices of the dying
And please stay with me tonight until I forget the crying

Do angels cry?
Do shadows fly?
far away from today, tomorrow and yesterday..
and can we really say,
we know the figure that shadows us along our way?
Until the day my shadow and I become one, but only in heavens light can this be done..

day has ended
night has fallen
ears dont listen
when sleep is calling.
tired unwilling
upstairs i stroll
tears will fall
eyes won't close.

tossing and turning
sleep won't come
memories haunt me
of that special one.
sleep will take me
dreams dont forget
i wake what i sleeps on
pillows soaking wet.

morning has broken
must birds always sing
must i rise to another
id rather not live.
wanting to be like him
is it really so wrong
want to be like him
i too wish i were gone.

it was simple and beautiful
not one of monetary riches
but one of love, hope and joy
to share the love
to grow and hold the love
both in her body and in her arms

Doctors told her it would not, could not happen
medications needed to keep her alive had stopped that chance.
acceptance came, slowly,
but the yearning never stopped.
the dream was just that, always to be a dream

life was lived, to the full, not held back
beside her man she worked the day of a man, and then some
her body became healthy and stronger
but the doctors reminded her it would not, could not happen

pigheaded, determined, work to be done, timber to be cut
nausea, nah medication
bloating, nah medication,
always a something else it could be
it would not, could not happen, the doctors said so

keep sawmilling girl, you can get through this
keep lifting those chunks of timber
back pain, stomach pains, what in the hell is going on?
it would not, could not be... could it?

crouched beside the big pile of bluestone
on a cold June day
it would and could happen
a dream so badly desired
dreams of a lifetime
were gained and shattered

Grace came into the world, and left at the same time
tears flowed, guilt descended
maybe if she had listened to her body
believed in her dream
it might have been

Grace, forever in her heart

You have left, where you touched every place,there's now an empty space in our lives,
every room, every item, your clothing I sense and smell you still,
the cat sits and looks into space, is it you that he sees ?
I come home from work and call your name I wait for you to run down the stairs but all there is is a vacuum of my own sorrow.
I imagine you in your special heavenly place with animals and play stations and
pizzas and whatever you want, without me to put a brake on and tell you to study or feed the dogs,
I smile when I think of your face,and your laugh, then weep for my own selfish loss, your brothers and sister cope in their own private way, its so hard, the worst possible pain, your sister is pregnant, a new life being formed, will you see the baby before it is born ?
I know you are with me in your own special way, at the graveyard yesterday you were with me, I felt your presence then you went away.

As we raise a toast to each other
We exchange a glance or two
Just to the two of us
The years that have passed in full view

Reminiscing of past loves
Singing our favorite songs
Telling a joke and some
Laughing at how old we are,cursing the heavens above

We look back on our life like the loveliest silk
It flows and sways,it catches your eye
Once you feel it,the passion never dies
You touch,you love it,you buy it

Your love grows fonder and fonder
You cannot wait to see each other,any longer
The long walks in the park
The sweet kisses in the dark
It is time to buy the lace you see
She says two yards not three

We look at our future like the lovliest lace
It flows so beautifully around your face
Once you feel it,the passion never dies
You touch,you love it,you buy it

Your love grows fonder and fonder
You cannot wait to say your vows any longer
The long talks you shared
The holding of hands with such care
Sweet summer nights alone
A new addition to call our own
It is time to choose the satin you see
He says this is her favorite color,chablis

Your love grows and grows
You cannot wait to show off his toes
The time spent waiting and pacing
The patience and nuturing,and all of the lacing
All the nights you lost sleep
The feeding,the burping,and changing of peas

We look at our future like the lovliest cotton
So soft and durable to the touch
It wraps you in warmth,like a blanket and such
You love it,you touch it,you buy it

Oh how the years have past,so quickly like a flash of light
You are all grown up now,and on an early flight
You will be gone four a few years, I know
But the happiness you have brought us,grows and grow
I look at our memories like the lovliest thought
We will miss you terribly,the pain is now brought

The years that have passed in full view
Now it is just the two of us,me and you
I remember like it was just yesterday
The first time I saw your beautiful face

It is time for me to choose the flowers
I know that it is time to fear
We loved,we laughed,we had our share of tears
Now time has gone like the seasons
They come,They stay,and then change
I have put my lace veil next to your face
I have put our sons cotton blanket at your feet
The satin is drapped around your coffin in your favorite color
chablis
The only thing that remains is the silk
I hold it in my mind,in my heart,in my thoughts
Now that you are gone,I raise my glass in toast of you
My sweet love,our memories in full view