Famous Death Poem

This famous poem by Edgar Albert Guest (1881-1959) has been bringing comfort to grief stricken parents for years. Guest himself suffered the loss of two of his children. A Child of Mine is a popular poem to read at funerals of children. To lose a child is one of life's most awful experiences. Focusing on the gift of your few years together can bring a measure of comfort.

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I received this poem anonymously in the mail 5 days after my son was born. This was 41 years ago in 1980. Tragically he passed away at the age of 16 in an auto accident. I remembered the poem...

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Famous Poem

A Child Of Mine

Edgar A. Guest By more Edgar A. Guest

I will lend you, for a little time,
A child of mine, He said.
For you to love the while he lives,
And mourn for when he's dead.
It may be six or seven years,
Or twenty-two or three.
But will you, till I call him back,
Take care of him for Me?
He'll bring his charms to gladden you,
And should his stay be brief.
You'll have his lovely memories,
As solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay,
Since all from earth return.
But there are lessons taught down there,
I want this child to learn.
I've looked the wide world over,
In search for teachers true.
And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes,
I have selected you.
Now will you give him all your love,
Nor think the labour vain.
Nor hate me when I come
To take him home again?
I fancied that I heard them say,
'Dear Lord, Thy will be done!'
For all the joys Thy child shall bring,
The risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shelter him with tenderness,
We'll love him while we may,
And for the happiness we've known,
Forever grateful stay.
But should the angels call for him,
Much sooner than we've planned.
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes,
And try to understand.

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Has this poem touched you? Share your story!
  • Lynn S by Lynn S
  • 10 months ago

This has been a great source of comfort for over 40 years.

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  • Alexia by Alexia
  • 1 year ago

I will be using this poem in a slideshow for a 7-year-old boy who died an accidental death of hanging while playing. It will touch his mother's heart as much as it touched mine. Thank you.

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  • Gabriella Massey by Gabriella Massey
  • 2 years ago

I lost my daughter, Isabella Marie, at 17. I experience the grief of never knowing what she would have been. It kills me every day watching her baby brother miss her. This poem helped me on the worst of nights. Although nothing will ever ease the pain, it's been a year, and it's still just as fresh. To everyone who has ever lost a child, I'm sorry for your losses. It's one of life's greatest and deepest pains.

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  • Amy Rivara by Amy Rivara
  • 3 years ago

I lost my son a few months ago to an aggressive form of brain cancer. He was just nineteen years old. He was a beautiful boy with a heart of gold. I miss him so much, and my heart is completely shattered. He was my son and my best friend. The poem brings me comfort when I can't stop crying at night. He is now a beautiful angel I will hold again someday. I was lucky to be his mom, and I will carry him in my heart always.

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  • Doreen McCaffrey by Doreen McCaffrey
  • 3 years ago

I was given this poem in a card a friend sent when our son died at 21 months. We then lost a daughter at 25 when she died of cancer.

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  • Patricia W by Patricia W
  • 3 years ago

I received this poem anonymously in the mail 5 days after my son was born. This was 41 years ago in 1980. Tragically he passed away at the age of 16 in an auto accident. I remembered the poem and how it served as a reminder that my son was never really mine. May this poem bring comfort to those whose children have passed away as it has for me the past 24 years. Thank you, Edgar Guest.

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  • Margaret Thompson by Margaret Thompson
  • 3 years ago

We went out with my son to celebrate his 40th birthday. He was happy. We had dinner with him and he cut his cake. At 10.45pm he walked to the bar to get a drink. He collapsed and was gone from a massive heart attack! It was a very difficult time. I believe our children are loaned to us. There is no guarantee that they will outlive their parents. The poem gives me comfort.

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  • Kandis Tapp by Kandis Tapp
  • 4 years ago

Our baby girl was stillborn, and I will be reading this poem at her funeral. We did not know her sex before she was born and Edgar was one of the names my husband and I had picked out for a boy before finding this poem. This poem has been very special to us during this time. The words are so beautiful and have helped us appreciate the significant moments we shared with her while she was growing inside me and the moments we got to spend with her after her birth.

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  • Delores Devree by Delores Devree
  • 5 years ago

I lost my oldest son last year in July. He was only 32 years old. I was supposed to meet him for breakfast that morning, but his coworkers found him dead in his bed from an accidental overdose of heroine laced with fentanyl. It was a week before my birthday. My family was shocked. We had no idea he did drugs. My ex-husband gave me this poem after we buried our son. It meant the world to me.

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  • Jennifer Wagner by Jennifer Wagner
  • 1 year ago

This caught my attention. My brother and his girlfriend were discovered on Christmas, together intentionally overdosed on fentanyl. Neither of them did drugs. They were both the lead managers of our store. I almost died falling out of an old Chevy truck on the way to the hospital to bring mom and Nate home. I was in charge of him all through growing up, and he took charge of ALWAYS knowing me. He always pretended to portray the life of a brother who hated his older sister, as she was a nuisance, confusing since he gave me my last job I've worked last 4 years. He was the ONLY family member who never left me. The broken heart I have I know will never completely heal...it's missing a HUGE piece that we'll NEVER find, NEVER get back, and there will never be any sort of a replica to replace it. He was irreplaceable.

  • Lisa Delias Tugmon by Lisa Delias Tugmon
  • 5 years ago

I lost my 13-year-old son to Huntington's Disease 15 years ago, and I remember before he passed, I whispered in his ear that it was okay to go and I promised him Mommy would be all right. Well, that was a promise I fought hard to keep I hated God. I hated everyone. It took me almost losing my other son at 28 to sudden cardiac death to believe again. It took them 6 minutes to bring him back. Now he has a defibrillator, and I worry all the time since he is a habitual drug user. If I lost him too, I don't think I could continue to live. Every single day for 15 years I struggled to wake up, but I have to keep going for my 3 other kids. Losing a child is so hard, and no mother should ever have to hand their child over to a funeral director and watch them walk away with your heart in their hands. God bless everyone who has lost a child too soon!

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  • Edward F Olearczyk Jr. by Edward F Olearczyk Jr.
  • 3 years ago

Lisa,
Thanks for sharing your experience. I will pray for your son and his health. Five years ago, my son Edward died at 24, melanoma cancer. It began as a scab on his scalp and invaded the brain. Nothing could be done.
We struggle. How can these things happen to us, our children? We put so much work into them. Too see them die seems unfair. It should have been me/us. That is not the reality. Somewhere in our hearts we know they are with God and strive to see them again when our time comes.
Last week my 93-year-old dad passed away. One friend said, "Wow you are next." Probably so. It's a struggle and painful but we go on. I believe God gives special grace/blessings to mothers who have lost a child. May they comfort you in your journey. -Ed

  • Hilda by Hilda
  • 5 years ago

My son died 28 years ago from cystic fibrosis. I hated God for taking him. I thought I did something wrong, but when I lost my other son 22 years ago I really didn't believe there was a God. I wanted to kill myself. There was no reason to live, but somehow I made it through with the help of my loving husband, and I turned to God for help. He was there for me and gave me another son who is 19 years old, and he is my miracle baby.

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  • Paul Myer by Paul Myer
  • 3 years ago

'Tis very easy for us to blame God for all the ills of humankind. We say why me, why us, how could you be so cruel. He is not cruel, life brings death, and so it has always been. Sad things befall us mere mortals every day. So sadly to say, sadness is here to stay. Until that happy day, your spirits meet in a much happier place.

  • Lisa Delias Tugmon by Lisa Delias Tugmon
  • 5 years ago

I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost my son 15 years ago when he was 13, and I swear I hated God too for taking him from me. It took me a long time to believe again. My other son suffered a cardiac arrest at 28 and after they brought him back, he had to have a defibrillator placed. At that point I knew there had to be a God because he gave my son back to me. I honestly don't know if I could live if I lost another one of my children. God bless you and your family!

  • Karlar by Karlar
  • 5 years ago

When my son died twenty eight years ago part of my soul was gone. As much as everyone tries to console you, nothing seems to help. I was so mad at God for taking my child from me. A few weeks after my son was buried, I received a card with this poem. At first I didn't appreciate the value it held. After reading over and over again, it took away my bitterness and allowed me to grieve instead of being so mad! I still have the poem and read it on tough days. My hope is that every parent that lost their child keeps this poem nearby; it does help. God bless!

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  • Sue Russell by Sue Russell
  • 6 years ago

I lost my daughter on Valentine’s Day 1986. She was 6 months old. I have been haunted in my dreams ever since. I wake screaming or crying and cannot be consoled. It's 2018 and it feels like yesterday. But not long after the funeral, I came back to where I lived to get the mail. In amongst the letters there was a piece of folded yellow paper. When I opened it, someone had lovingly written this poem down for me. I do not know who took the time to do this for me. I still have it put away with the cards. I thank the person who did that for me.

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  • Shirley Hardy by Shirley Hardy
  • 6 years ago

This poem arrived on our son Brian's 45th birthday. He died when he was 15. We can't say how much the written word can heal and make total grief less painful. We miss his beautiful smile, his wit and intelligence every single day. I know I will see him again someday, of that I'm sure. He makes his presence known to us at times; that's how strong our love is. Lovely poem and thank you, Edgar Guest, for your heartfelt words...

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  • Amympr by Amympr
  • 6 years ago

This poem means so much to me as a mother. I lost my baby boy when he was only a week and a day old in the hospital. I read this poem at his funeral. This poem was supporting me as I was reading it out. The words are so true and so beautiful.

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