Funerals can truly be augmented by a poem that is apt and fitting for the person you have just lost. The following list of funeral poems about carpentry are perfect for those who made a career moulding and shaping wood, or who simply enjoyed it as a pastime.
The Carpenter
by Paul Warren
He selects the wood very carefully
The grain and the colour so beautifully
Looking along the edge it’s straight
And feeling it, it has a good weight
Remember to measure twice and cut once
Is the rule of thumb before you pounce
He knows the work and the craftsman’s tools
As he saws, planes and sands to carpenter’s rules
The joints are a woodworker’s art and a pleasure to see
When glued together strong and straight it will be
The last piece of the carpenter’s work is at hand
To finish is to wax the wood for a look that’s grand
Wonderful wood full of carbon is ecological
The carpenter stands back in his craftsman’s call
Working with your hands shows a skill so good
As he works he magic cutting and shaping the wood.
The Carpenter Lives On
Author Unknown
Stepping into his workshop to start the day,
Different pieces of wood laid in array,
The scent of cedar filling the air,
A piece of furniture he works to prepare,
Handcrafted with love and the finest precision,
A work came to life with what he could envision,
Measuring the wood for the perfect size,
Tape measure at hand from his supplies,
Reaching for a saw lying on a shelf,
He whistles a familiar tune to himself,
Cutting the wood with the utmost care,
A type of craftsmanship no other can compare,
Skilled at working with his hands,
He strives to use them for all of life’s demands,
Hands that could craft his heart’s desires,
Creating a lifetime of work to be forever admired,
The ability to turn something simple into grand,
The only tools he needed were his left and right hand,
Each piece of work embodies his spirit and love,
A talent he was blessed with from the Lord above,
The carpenter lives on through his creations,
His heart the framework to all his foundations
The Chips Are Down
by Michael Ashby
Why, Oh why, didn’t I build my own coffin?
Now that the chips are down
Then I wouldn’t have a splinter in my bum
With me unable to protest in sound
My life’s jigsaw is dovetailed away
And it’s my turn now to walk the plank
But my coffin maker also made the boat
And fortunately for me, it sank
Ashes to ashes, sawdust to sawdust
My preservative has whittled away
Farewell to the woods, farewell to the trees
A master craftsman now lies at ease
The Master Carpenter
by G. E. Nordell
There was once a master carpenter and he lived a good life
for he loved to work, building things of wood.
He was loved by his family,
by his sons and his daughter,
and especially by his wife.
He was loved by everyone who knew him.
And at the end of that good life
when it came time for him to die
the old carpenter soared
into the white light of death –
for the white light is where the good souls go to.
And the white light warmed him and
nurtured him and
fed him great peace.
And when this carpenter arrived in heaven
he was expected and
immediately he was put to work:
for the Pearly Gates
were a bit loose
and St. Peter’s desk
had a couple of drawers that stuck.
And before long
the old master carpenter
began to build
a new throne
for God.
To access our full list of funeral poems, click here.
All poems featured on this website are free to use during any ceremony, although it is good practice to make sure the author is mentioned, if known. Should you require a celebrant for your ceremony, be it a funeral, a wedding, a naming ceremony or something else, feel free to get in touch. I am a double award-nominated Family and Funeral Celebrant covering the entire UK, and would be happy to help you commemorate in a meaningful and personal way.
