Special words, poems and thoughts for John - his own favourite read at his funeral by his cousin Katie Smith, one dedicated from his parents and one written by his cousin - Dan Smith

IF

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream-and not make dreams your master;
If you can think-and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings-nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And-which is more-you'll be a Man, my son!
Rudyard Kipling
...



 

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 glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die!

Mary Frye (1932)


 

In Memory Of John Eastwood

You were a young adult
You were only 18
You were the best brother in the world
So why is life so mean?

I can't believe you're gone
I can't wait to see you again
I'll tell you how much I love you
And Relieve some of my pain

I know that you are with me
Every minute of the day
But until I see your face again
The pain won't go away

We may not be together now
But it's only for a while
Until I come and see you
And See your great big smile

When we played a game
You always used to grin
Because whatever game we played

You always had to win
We knew the day would come
That we would have to part
But until we meet again John
I'll keep you in my heart

You made everybody smile
Everybody misses you
Everyone in the family
Especially me and Kate

Don't think that no one misses you
Because everybody has
Everyone from work
Especially your best friend Baz

Everyon you knew misses you
Everyone's so sad
That you had to leave this world
Without Your Mum and Dad

Love from Dan Smith