The Story Behind the Gone Poems

The Story Behind the Gone Poems

Poetry has a way of saying what our hearts can’t. Over the years, I’ve seen how a few simple words can bring peace and comfort to people during their hardest times. In this post, I’d like to share the story behind the Gone poems by David Ritter—how one simple tribute for a friend’s father grew into a series that continues to touch hearts all around the world.

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How It All Began

Poetry has always been my way of expressing feelings and emotions. For years, I wrote straight from the heart and shared some of my poems on Facebook. A few of them, like Moms Do Die, Don’t Cry for Me, and Our Journey’s End, were shared thousands of times.

I’ve written about addiction and the pain that comes with it, but also about faith in God and the spiritual moments that remind us, we’re never truly alone. Writing helped me heal, and I hoped my words might help someone else do the same.

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How Gone Fishing Was Born

I never thought of poetry as a way to make money. That changed one day when a friend asked if I could write a poem for her father, who had recently passed away. I asked her a few questions about him, and she told me he loved to fish.

So I sat down and wrote Gone Fishing.

She loved it. I framed the poem for her, and she displayed it at the funeral. People there connected with it deeply, she told me. Later, I posted it online, and it started being shared again and again.

At first, I didn’t think much of it. But months later, out of curiosity, I searched “Gone Fishing by David Ritter” and was stunned to see it appearing in obituaries all across the United States. That’s when I realized the poem had touched far more lives than I ever imagined.

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One Poem Led to Another

A while later, my friend Al reached out after his father passed away. He told me he loved Gone Fishing, but he and his dad weren’t fishermen—they were hunters. So I said, “No problem, I’ll write you a hunting version.”

That’s how Gone Hunting was born. It’s now my most popular poem in terms of sales, though Gone Fishing still gets the most views on my website.

That’s when I decided to share my poems more widely. I created an Etsy shop and a poetry website where people could download or purchase framed versions. Nobody has to buy anything, but I’m grateful for everyone who supports my work and helps keep my poetry available for those who need it.

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Growing Beyond One Poem

Not long after that, at my cousin’s funeral, another family member asked if I could write something for a friend who loved motorcycles. I said sure, and Gone Riding came to life.

Gone Golfing followed soon after—the only one not written for someone specific. Then came Gone Hustling, written for my friend Steve, who plays pool with me, after his girlfriend lost her father, a fellow pool player.

Over the years, I’ve written custom “Gone” poems for many others too: Gone Lifting for a weightlifter, Gone Flying for a pilot, and another Gone Riding for a horseback rider. I usually ask people to share three to five things about their loved one and build the poem around those memories. Designing and framing these pieces has become something I truly enjoy—it’s personal and meaningful every single time.

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More Than I Ever Imagined

That’s how it all began, with one poem for my friend Vickie and her dad. I never imagined that simple act of kindness would grow into something so much bigger than I ever planned.

Today, my poems have been read at recovery meetings, shared in church sermons, and used at funerals all over the world. In 2024 alone, I shipped framed pieces to more than 550 American cities and five countries.

I am still humbled every time someone reaches out to tell me how one of my poems brought them comfort. It reminds me that this is not just my doing. It is God working through simple words to heal broken hearts.

When I look back, The Story Behind the Gone Poems by David Ritter is not really about poetry at all. It is about how faith, love, and shared grief can connect people in ways we never expect.

And yes, I write for other occasions too, such as birthdays, weddings, and graduations, but the Gone poems will always hold a special place in my heart. Funny thing is, I never set out to write a series. I just wrote one poem for a friend who lost her dad, and somehow, it grew into something much greater than me.

You can find more of my poetry prints and digital downloads on my Etsy shop.

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If you’ve ever shared or read one of my “Gone” poems, thank you. All of my poetry is free to use for personal memorials or tributes, but not for resale or marketing. I’m truly grateful to those who support my work by purchasing downloads or framed prints — it helps me keep these poems available for everyone who needs them.