I Put Flowers In Your Hair
By Jabo
@jaboUK (64354)
United Kingdom
March 5, 2017 3:08pm CST
You lie there in your coffin
with flowers in your hair,
I hope they would have pleased you
'twas me that put them there.
I chose a white dress for you
that might have caused you mirth,
but you were the sweetest thing
that ever walked this earth.
With love and understanding
you always could beguile,
charmed the birds down from the trees
with just your lovely smile.
At least you're free from pain now
and are away from harm,
if there are really angels
I hope you're in their arms.
Dedicated to my mother who has been gone a long time. Have you ever placed anything in the coffin of a loved one?
70 people like this
66 responses
@much2say (56117)
• Los Angeles, California
6 Mar 17
Touching and beautiful! When I was child, my grandfather passed away . . . I somehow remember all the close family members gathering "finger nails clippings" - my mother clipped mine and apparently that was put into my grandfather's coffin. Is that strange?4 people like this
@much2say (56117)
• Los Angeles, California
6 Mar 17
@jaboUK I edited it to say "finger nail clippings" - sorry, that must have sounded terrible to just say the nails! I'm not sure if it was a family thing, or Japanese or Buddhist tradition . . . but I vaguely remember my mom giving a brief explanation that this way he brings a part of us with him to wherever he is going.
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21744)
• Canada
5 Mar 17
That is a beautiful tribute. Thank you for sharing it with us.
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
5 Mar 17
@Morleyhunt My pleasure to share it, thank you for responding.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
4 Apr 17
@jaboUK This was beautiful. Your mother would have loved this.
I sprinkled "holy water" on my mum's coffin. Which in all honestly, she probably would have stuck her nose up about that lol And then for my Uncle Danny's coffin, I put a flower.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
5 Apr 17
@VivaLaDani13 Thanks Dani - I've no need to ask why your mother would have stuck her nose up as I've read your reply to DJ.
2 people like this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
5 Apr 17
@VivaLaDani13 I am kind of taken aback by the casual mention of rape. 
2 people like this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
4 Apr 17
@VivaLaDani13 lol "stuck her nose up" Not very religious, was she? or at all?
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
5 Mar 17
@mysdianait Thank you - it's not really a discussion, is it? I just thought putting a question on the bottom (like 'Have you lost a loved one?') would spoil it somehow. I may yet edit it if I can think of something not too crass.
2 people like this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
5 Mar 17
@jaboUK You could mention who it is dedicated to and ask if we would add flowers or whatever to a loved one?
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
5 Mar 17
@mysdianait Yes, perhaps I'll do that, thanks.
2 people like this
@Butchcass4 (5895)
• United States
6 Mar 17
It is wonderful to meet you and I love the poem it is beautiful you did a great job writing it!
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
6 Mar 17
@Butchcass4 Thanks, but I've met you before. I'm very happy that you like the poem.
. I'm very happy that you like the poem.1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
6 Mar 17
No, I haven't, Janet. What a lovely poem and nice tribute to your mom. Are those carnations? Did you really put flowers in her coffin?
I've heard of family or others that tuck a picture, or personal handkerchief, or similar things.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
11 Mar 17
@MarshaMusselman Yes, they're double ones.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
11 Mar 17
@jaboUK Love the colors of the flowers. Are the purple ones the petunias?
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
29 Mar 17
Beautiful!
And no I haven't even seen any coffins in my life. Burying is not in our customs, we cremate!
And no I haven't even seen any coffins in my life. Burying is not in our customs, we cremate!2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
29 Mar 17
@Daljinder So are the bodies not put into coffins prior to cremation?
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
3 Apr 17
@Daljinder So you can actually see the body being burnt? I would find that very distressing.
2 people like this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
3 Apr 17
@jaboUK No, there are no coffins at all unless cremated in that burner thing. Here, a pyre is set up and body is laid and cremated that way after whatever rituals they had.
2 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16791)
• China
6 Mar 17
Your poem moves me and reminds me of My dear Mum who passed away at the age of 94.Sadly I coudn't put flowers in her hairs ,because she was cremated.
2 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16791)
• China
7 Mar 17
@jaboUK I think it was due to your Mum leading a rather hard life.Yes,I miss my mother frequently.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
6 Mar 17
@changjiangzhibin89 Your mother was a good age Chang, mine was only 69. We miss them , don't we?
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
6 Mar 17
lovely tender poem, - my step-father was buried with the scarf of his favourite football team by his side
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
8 Mar 17
@jaboUK it is a nice gesture for families to feel they have sent the deceased off ith something appropriate
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
6 Mar 17
@arthurchappell Thank you. That was nice that your step-father had something personal like that in his coffin.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
6 Mar 17
Very beautiful poem. No, I never placed anything in a coffin. I actually have not seen too many. My parents were cremated.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
6 Mar 17
@jaboUK I'm sure she knows about your poem.....
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
6 Mar 17
@HAVEbest521521 Thank you, it's nice of you to say so. I see that you are new here, so welcome to the site, I hope you enjoy it.
