Nice quote/song lyrics/words needed (today) please!

Some beautiful suggestions, I want to cut them out and keep them forever!

Thank you all for your lovely ideas.

I hate to disappoint - but I was so busy I didn't get a chance to look back at your messages and we ended up just raising a toast and wishing him a happy birthday !

My parents were bearing up well, so I wouldn't have said anything too long or maudlin as I hate to see them cry

radicalnan - Your idea would have been just perfect

My parents had lots of cuddles with my GS which made the day more bearable for them, and we all had a really super afternoon.

Thanks to you all again

Lovely yes humpty thanks, so comforting I think

menopaws, I think this is what you are thinking of, by Henry Scott Holland:

Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away to the next room.
I am I and you are you.
Whatever we were to each other,
That, we still are.

Call me by my old familiar name.
Speak to me in the easy way
which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed
at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me. Pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word
that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect.
Without the trace of a shadow on it.

Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same that it ever was.
There is absolute unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind
because I am out of sight?

I am but waiting for you.
For an interval.
Somewhere. Very near.
Just around the corner.

All is well.

Nothing is past; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before only better, infinitely happier and forever we will all be one together with Christ.

I like the one about just being next door, can't remember the title but whenever I hear it it feels comforting if you just think they are in the next room, sorry not next door that would be weird!

Flaxseed so sorry to hear you lost your brother at such an early age but can I recommend the verse posted by gillyjp 'I am not there', it gave me much comfort when I lost my son.

gillyjp thank you for this, a friend sent it to me when I lost my eldest son at the age of 30.
It gave me much comfort at the time of his death but I mislaid it and can't find it anywhere.

The Heavy Stone
My grief was a heavy stone,

rough and sharp.

Grasping to pick it up

My hands were cut.

Afraid to let go,

I carried it.

While I had my grief

you were not lost.

The rain of my tears

smoothed it.

The wind of my rage

weathered it,

making it round and small.

The cuts in my hands have healed.

Now in my palm it rests,

sometimes almost beautiful,

Sometimes almost you.

For my (now late) aunt I cross-stitched a picture of a rose with the following words below it:

'God gave us memory that we might have roses in December'

I would be inclined to say

'we miss you (name) and when we look at baby (name) we think of you', here's to our family.

Raise a glass and don't get too maudlin.

I love that nannymarge ❤️

You never, ever forget a loved one. Do hope you and your family have a wonderful day to celebrate your late brother's life. What wonderful, touching poems sent in by Gransnet. In life's best things, our loved ones live on.

Thankyou Maw, I really like that. I hope it went ok Flaxseed.

Rather than a poem, you might read at a funeral why not ask each guest to remind the gathering of a funny story, such as from his childhood, or school/college or a memory they cherish of him. That way everyone is involved and there will be laughter which is lovely for the family.

What comforting words - I do hope that you find what you want to say, Flaxseed. What a wonderful thing to do as well, to have this gathering in your brother's memory.

I lost my brother in 1969 when he was 18. My mother never recovered. She died this June at the age of 87. I gave her eulogy and quoted this at the end - we talk about them, not because we’re stuck or because we haven’t moved on, but we talk about them because we are theirs and they are ours and no passage of time will ever change that. X

So sorry, for the loss of your brother, I know how that feels.

My brother, my only relation, died in 2010. I miss him everyday he looked out for me. Good wishes.

Just want to say so sorry for the loss of your brother ....

There are some truly inspiring words and poetry here ...wonderful to read all these

I hope you will find something personal that you want to say in your own way as well........as you say, you have a new life in the family to give you all hope for the future. Every good wish to you all

And there is this one a personal favourite recited when my Father's ashes were interred:

I am not there

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle Autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there;
I did not die.

This is a poem I find a comfort

So many different lengths of time by Brian Patten

How long does a man live after all?
A thousand days or only one?
One week or a few centuries?
How long does a man spend living or dying
and what do we mean when we say gone forever?

Adrift in such preoccupations, we seek clarification.
We can go to the philosophers
but they will weary of our questions.
We can go to the priests and rabbis
but they might be busy with administrations.

So, how long does a man live after all?
And how much does he live while he lives?
We fret and ask so many questions -
then when it comes to us
the answer is so simple after all.

A man lives for as long as we carry him inside us,
for as long as we carry the harvest of his dreams,
for as long as we ourselves live,
holding memories in common, a man lives.

His lover will carry his man's scent, his touch:
his children will carry the weight of his love.
One friend will carry his arguments,
another will hum his favourite tunes,
another will still share his terrors.

And the days will pass with baffled faces,
then the weeks, then the months,
then there will be a day when no question is asked,
and the knots of grief will loosen in the stomach
and the puffed faces will calm.
And on that day he will not have ceased
but will have ceased to be separated by death.

How long does a man live after all?
A man lives so many different lengths of time. 

Yes, wonderful words. Thanks and [flowrs] super-grans!

Oh Coconut that made me cry. D.S. had op earlier this year and I was so worried that he would not pull through. Fortunately he did.

I always raise a glass at Christmas to 'absent friends' to my dear late husband and try to smile bravely though I'm sure it looks a bit false.

Wow! Totally wonderful stuff here - have bookmarked three.

coconut that is so touching and precious sentiments.
I would choose that if it were me.

Other than that speaking from the heart is best because you will say exactly what you feel rather than a set piece.

Invite your parents to say a few things too.

Or do both , a set piece and your own heartfelt expression.