Top 10 Daughter to Father Poems After Death
The bond between a father and daughter is one of life's most cherished relationships. In the wake of a father's passing, many daughters turn to poetry to find words that might encapsulate their immense feelings. Daughter to father poems after death provide a poignant avenue for this expression. Here are ten such poems, each selected for its resonance and depth.
1. "The Gift" by Li-Young Lee
To pull the metal splinter from my palm
my father recited a story in a low voice.
In the realm of daughter to father poems after death, Lee's work stands out. This poem captures a specific memory, highlighting a father's caring nature and the lasting impressions such moments leave on a daughter's heart.
Planning a funeral is hard; words are never enough, but could be a part of the service to show how much your loved one mattered to you.
2. "Father" by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
He never made a fortune, or a noise
In the world where men are seeking after fame;
Wilcox's tribute offers a timeless message often found in daughter-to-father poems after death: the true value of a father's legacy lies in love, not material achievements.
3. "In Blackwater Woods" by Mary Oliver
To live in this world
you must be able
to do three things...
love what is mortal;
to hold it
against your bones knowing
your own life depends on it;
and, when the time comes to let it go,
to let it go.
Among daughter to father poems after death, Oliver's words bring solace to the grieving heart, offering a broader perspective on love, loss, and the cycle of life.
Hymns, funeral music and poems could all be part of a service. This poem could be the one that helps you process your loss.
4. "Father" by Edgar Albert Guest
My father knows the proper way
The nation should be run;
He tells us children every day
Just what should now be done.
Guest's poem beautifully encapsulates a father's guiding role. It's a sentiment often echoed in daughter-to-father poems after death, illustrating the wisdom and leadership fathers provide.
5. "Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep" by Clare Harner
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
Clare's famous poem offers solace to the grieving, suggesting the departed are still with us in spirit. It's a comforting perspective for daughters missing their fathers and could be read at a funeral or a cremation.
6. "My Father" by Yehuda Amichai (translated)
My father was God
And did not know it.
Amichai's reflective poem pays homage to the almost divine stature fathers hold in their children's eyes. It's a touching testament to a father's lasting influence.
7. "Memory of My Father" by Patrick Kavanagh
Every old man I see
Reminds me of my father
Kavanagh’s piece delves into the lingering presence of a father in everyday life, making it a beautiful ode for remembering and celebrating a father's life.
8. "Elegy for My Father, Who is Not Dead" by Andrew Hudgins
One day I'll lift the telephone
And be told my father's dead.
Hudgins grapples with the impending reality of loss, making it a poignant piece for those fearing or freshly grappling with their father's departure.
9. "In Memory of My Father" by David Ignatow
I wish I could believe in some way
You have continued on
Ignatow’s poem is a candid reflection on the wish to believe in an afterlife, providing solace to daughters seeking reassurance. You can always ask your funeral director for help picking the right poem.
10. "Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden
Sundays too my father got up early
And put his clothes on in the blueblack cold.
Hayden reminisces about the unnoticed sacrifices of a father. It's a touching tribute that reminds us to cherish memories and recognise love in small acts.
This poem could be read at a wake to honour your loved ones' small acts of love.