Why this page exists
Many people find this website searching for the popular poem “She Is Gone” (also known as “He Is Gone” or “Remember Me”), which has been widely shared as a comforting poem about loss and remembrance. However, that poem was not written by this David Harkins, and this page exists to clarify the distinction and help you find the original source.
About the poem often attributed to “David Harkins”
The poem often titled “She Is Gone” (“You can shed tears that she is gone…”) was originally published under the title Remember Me and has circulated widely as an anonymous piece of verse. It became particularly well known after it was included, credited as “Anonymous, ”in the funeral order of service for Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 2002.
Although many websites and publications now associate the poem with a “David Harkins,” that David Harkins is an English poet and painter, not affiliated with this site.
Important clarification
I am not the author of She Is Gone or any other works associated with the name “David Harkins” that appear on external sites. I share a name with several other individuals, but I have no connection with:
The artist and poet associated with She Is Gone
Other professionals named David Harkins in business, science, or the arts
Harkins Theaters or similarly named organizations
If you are seeking permission to reproduce or use that poem, you will need to contact the rights holder or publisher directly; I cannot grant permissions on their behalf.
If you came here looking for meaning and comfort
Many people encounter the “She Is Gone” poem in times of grief or remembrance. While this site does not host the poem itself, its widespread resonance points to something universal: the human desire to find meaning and comfort in moments of loss. If your visit here reflects that search, you might find value in exploring:
Writing on meaning, culture, and human experience
Thoughtful essays on life, grief, and sensemaking
Press or interviews where I discuss human experience and change