Funeral Poems for a Brother: 5 Verses to Honor Him

A brother is a first ally and a lifelong friend. These funeral poems for a brother - original verses and timeless public-domain classics - help honor him at a service, in a memorial program, or on a keepsake. Choose the words that feel like him.

5 Funeral Poems for a Brother

1. My Brother (original)

You were my rival and my shield,
my partner in the fray,
the one who always had my back -
and has it still today.

2. Gone Ahead (original)

A brother does not say farewell,
he only goes ahead
to scout the road, to light the way
down which we will be led.
So I will live the braver for him,
laugh the louder too,
and carry every memory
the way he would want me to.

3. Rest, Brother (original, short)

Rest now, my brother, brave and true,
your watch at last is done;
we carry on the bond we shared
beneath the same bright sun.

4. Requiem (Robert Louis Stevenson)

Under the wide and starry sky,
Dig the grave and let me lie.
Glad did I live and gladly die,
And I laid me down with a will.
- Robert Louis Stevenson (public domain)

5. Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep (Mary Elizabeth Frye)

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there; I do not sleep.
- Mary Elizabeth Frye (public domain)

How to Choose a Funeral Poem for a Brother

Pick words that match your bond - loyal, brave, or full of humor. A short verse suits a program or keepsake; a longer reading works for a eulogy. Read it aloud first, and adjust a line so it sounds like the two of you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good short funeral poem for a brother?

A brief verse like Rest, Brother above reads well aloud and fits a program or keepsake.

Can I personalize a poem for my brother?

Yes - add his name, adapt a line to a shared memory, or engrave it on a keepsake.

More funeral poems: all funeral poems, for a Sister, short, and uplifting.