Including a reading in the ceremony is a beautiful way to express our feelings, evoke a memory and offer comfort to those who are grieving. It’s also a nice way to involve other family members or friends who may wish to contribute to the ceremony. 

Deciding on the right reading can be overwhelming, but at the end of the day, it really just comes down to how that reading made you feel. Does it trigger memories of them, does it communicate the emotions you are feeling, and is it appropriate to both the mourners and to the person who will be reading it?

Over the years I have collected many different verses and poems which you will find below. Feel free to choose one of these, modify them, or you may provide your own reading, or write your own poem if you prefer. 

I have divided them into the following broad categories to help make it a little easier for you