Losing your father or parent may be one of life's most difficult experiences, and it's one of those things that's not easy to put into words either. Poems in memory of a dad can help you express your loss or comfort someone who is going through this difficult time.
Everyone has a unique relationship with their father, and there's no one-size-fits-all description of what that bond is like. Even so, there are some commonalities that can make you feel a little less alone. Sometimes a poem for a dad who passed away can make the task of eulogizing a beloved father just a little bit easier too.
Unless otherwise noted, all poems are original and written by LoveToKnow staff.
Short Poems for a Dad Who Passed Away
Sometimes you don't need a lot of words to express how you feel. These short poems are simple and sweet, and they can be perfect in a memorial service program or just to share.
Trust the Water
Remember how you taught me to swim, holding me up until I began to trust the water and myself?
I see you like a rain drop falling into that same lake where you held me, becoming part of it all.
Now I know to trust the water and myself.
Everything
When I was little, you always knew
Everything.
As I grew, you showed me
Everything.
Little by little, you gave me
Everything.
What you've been to me is
Everything.
You Walked Ahead
You walked ahead, always.
You walked in strength and kindness.
You walked in love that shone with warmth.
Now I walk alone, but I feel you with me.
In Memory of My Dad Poems
The loss of a dad is especially poignant when it happens while a child is still young. Even after the initial grief subsides, kids still feel the loss through every passing year. Whether it's a poem that finds solace in thinking of dad in heaven or it's a poem based on the memories of his life, there's no right or wrong when it comes to expressing grief over the loss of a father.
Not Enough Time
The time we had, Dad,
Wasn't nearly enough
To pack in an entire
Lifetime of love.
There are so many questions
That I need answers to,
But now that you're gone
There's no way to ask you.
But there are still photos
To remember you by,
Each time I look at them,
I still want to cry.
They say grief is easier to bear as time goes by,
But the doesn't stop me from wondering why?
Why my dear, sweet dad
Was taken so soon,
When he was my guiding star,
My sun and my moon.
There are no answers
To a question like this,
So I'll cherish your memory,
And mourn the years we'll miss.
A Poem for Daddy in Heaven
I know you can hear me way up in heaven because we talk through our hearts.
Dear Daddy in heaven I miss you every day and I know you miss me too.
No matter how old I get or how long you're gone,
I hear you, Daddy, up in heaven through the love in my heart.
Quick Tip
Even if you're an adult, poems from a child's perspective can be very powerful. When we lose a parent, it's normal to feel that loss from a child's viewpoint.
Still Missing You After All These Years
I was only eight years old
When mom told me had you died.
I didn't fully know what it meant.
I felt numb, but I still cried.
I didn't know how big a hole your passing would leave.
I didn't understand how much loneliness
I was about to receive.
As the years have gone by,
I've forgotten a few things,
Like the sound of your voice,
And how your laughter used to ring.
I can't remember exactly what
It was like when you held me,
But I do remember it left me with
A feeling of warmth and security.
My first birthday spent without you
Was hardest after you where gone.
That first Christmas just wasn't the same,
And it remains so as the years go on.
There have been thousands of times
When I've wished you were still here,
To celebrate all of my joys,
And help me calm my fear.
I've spent more of my life without you
Than with you, I'm sad to say.
But I want you to know I still love you,
And I think about you every day.
I Can Still Feel Your Hand
I can still feel your hand, big in mine, even though mine is fully grown.
Time doesn't change anything.
You're still my daddy, still my hero, still the hand I want to hold when I'm scared.
I'll never stop missing you.
Poem About Dad for a Father's Eulogy
A eulogy should pay tribute to the dad who has passed, whether it comes from one of his children or another loved one wants to say some comforting words for them. The following poem comes from both perspectives, so it's perfect for a lot of situations.
Your Very Own Guardian Angel
The loss of a father
Is a heavy burden to bear.
He's a source of quiet strength
That is so missed when he's not there.
Take comfort he's in Heaven,
And looking down at you.
He'll be there through the coming years,
Watching over and guiding you.
He's your very own guardian angel,
And he'll be with you to the end,
When you meet again in Heaven,
And your broken heart will finally mend.
Daughter-to-Father Poems to Remember Him After Death
No one's relationship with their father is the same, but these daugher-to-father poems in memory of his loss might resonate with you.
A Daughter Never Forgets Her Dad
I have to admit that
I was a Daddy's girl.
He told me he loved better
Than anything else in the world.
When I became a woman
He walked me down the aisle,
And gave me away
With a bittersweet smile.
And when I gave birth,
He was there, too
To greet my little one and say
Hello, I love you.
And now that man who loved me,
And wrapped me in arms so strong
Has gone where I can't reach him,
But my love for him lives on.
I'll keep his memory alive, and honor all he believed,
And just feel so very grateful
For all his love that I received.
From Your Daughter, In Memory of a Cherished Dad
It was a privelege and an honor to be your daughter.
It was grounding and humbling to see just how hard you worked each day.
It was inspiring and incredible to see you do whatever you set your mind to do.
It's heartbreaking to lose you.
But I'll love you and cherish you forever, Dad.
Poems From a Son to Remember Their Father
The father-son relationship is just as unique, and the grief and loss can be intense. These are some expressions of that loss a son might feel after his father's passed.
The Bond Between a Father and a Son
A father and his son
Are inexplicably bound,
And that bond isn't severed just
Because Dad's no longer around.
A son remembers his father's words,
His wisdom and his wit.
There's never a day the ever goes by,
When the son doesn't find a use for it.
And this is how the father lives on
Inside the heart of his son.
Although they were parted years ago
In this way, the two live as one.
You've Made Me Who I Am, Dad
Life has had its ups and downs,
But your strength and wisdom always guided me through.
Your laughter and joy
always helped me take one more step.
Your hard work and kindness
inspired me to be who I am today.
As your son, I can never thank you enough for living the beautiful life you lived.
I love you and miss you, Dad.
In Memory of a Military Dad
Memorializing a father killed in the line of duty is a very special task. The following poem captures the unique blend of sorrow, pride and respect a son or daughter feels at this time.
My Dad Answered the Call
When duty called, my dad answered
Without hesitation or fear.
He didn't ask what it would cost him,
He just saw a need that was clear.
A need to defend his country,
No matter what anyone else thought.
So he headed off to a far away land
And there he stood and he fought.
He fought to preserve our freedom,
Our right to govern ourselves here,
Unencumbered by some foreign nation,
Trying to erase the beliefs we hold dear.
So my dad is a hero in my eyes,
And I hope he's one in your eyes, too.
He gave up his life and all that he loved,
To ensure that freedom for you.
My Daddy, My Hero
My Daddy was a soldier, people said he was a hero who protected us all.
My Daddy is my hero who taught me to play ball, me when I would fall, and made me feel not so small.
Famous Poems in Memory of a Father
Over the years, poets have written beautiful poems about the loss of a dad. These can be perfect for reading at memorial services or sharing with those you love.
- "Father" by Ella Wheeler Wilcox - This classic poem talks about everything a father can give his children that has nothing to do with money.
- "If" by Rudyard Kipling - Although this poem isn't about death, it speaks tenderly and poignantly about the relationship of a father and child.
- "Father and Daughter" by Amanda Strand - This cathartic and loving poem is about the realization that a father is gone.
- "i carry your heart with me [i carry it in]" by e. e. cummings - A classic poem of remembrance, this isn't specific to fathers, but it's perfect for a dad's memorial or funeral.
A Poem From Your Heart to Remember Dad
There's no wrong way to choose a poem for their father's funeral or memorial, as long as the sentiments ring true. If you're feeling like you have it in you right now, a poem you've written yourself can also be personal and honor your dad in a way that someone else's words never could.
Whether you try writing a poem for your dad from your heart or use words that speak to you, poetry can provide you with a much-needed release for your grief. If you'd like to offer comfort to someone else, learn what to say to say to someone who lost their dad.
