Poem about after death, sailing away on a ship with white sails, do you know it ?

Question

many years ago a poem was circulating around about when one dies they are just boarding another ship with white sails and there are others on the other side waving hello to them. Can Anyone give me a few lines, or a name or a site to find it, My mom needs it as my 93 year old dad is fading fast now. thanks

Answer 1

I've always known it as "A Parable of Immortality" by Henry van d**e.

I am standing by the seashore.

A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze

and starts for the blue ocean.

She is an object of beauty and strength,

and I stand and watch

until at last she hangs like a speck of white cloud

just where the sun and sky come down to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says, 'There she goes!

Gone where? Gone from my sight - that is all.

She is just as large in mast and hull and spar

as she was when she left my side

and just as able to bear her load of living freight

to the places of destination.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her.

And just at the moment when someone at my side says,

'There she goes! ' ,

there are other eyes watching her coming,

and other voices ready to take up the glad shout :

'Here she comes!'

http://www.goingeasy.com/writeside_publi...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_van_D...

Answer 2

if you find it please let me know.

Answer 3

I am sorry about your dad and wish that I could help you with this question but I just don't know.

Answer 4

Yeah I think it's called "when I've reached the bar" or something like that. My grandma's obituary had it on there many years ago. I'll see what I can find on it. I'll update this when I find it.

Ok it's not the same poem your looking for but it's still nice. It's by Lord Alfred Tennyson.

Sunset and evening star,

And one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,

When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,

Too full for sound and foam,

When that which drew from out the boundless deep

Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,

And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell,

When I embark;

For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place

The flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face to face

When I have crossed the bar.

Answer 5

Not knowing the poem you are thinking of, I searched some and found this.  Although not in meter, perhaps this is what you are looking for.  Peace be with your family.

I am standing upon that foreshore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength and I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and the sky come down to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says “ there, She’s gone” “Gone where” “Gone from my sight, that’s all”. She is just as large in mast and spar and hull as ever she was when she left my side; just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of her destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her. “There, she’s gone” there are other eyes watching her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout. “Here she comes” That is dying.

Victor Hugo