Fare-thee-well! (A benediction)

If life is a time, let it be dawn
a new start, a promise, Oh! Let it it be Morn!

If life is a thread, then let it be spun
of gossamer thinness and delicately drawn,

If life is a road, then walk, don't run
don't reach your goal before the day is done.

Don't just climb mountains, explore every vale,
don't impatiently pass over the meandering trail.

Pause and rest, ponder awhile,
reflect, remember, reminescently smile.
Meet new companions, form a happy band,
it's easier to tramp walking hand-in-hand.

If one should slip, stretch out a helping hand,
if one should totter, help him to stand,
but if one should walk apart, try and understand.

If his song you swelled while he wrote foot-notes to your tale,
If you became a boat and he became your sail,
If your burden was too heavy and his shoulders were on loan,
Don't plead now or demand, let him strike out alone!

Let him follow the piping he alone hears,
and as days turn to months, and months into years,
if by some puckish chance your paths should meet again,
then 'tis once more a merging into one from twain!

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

x-x-x--x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-xx-

That was how it was first written 35 years ago, here is today's version with attempt at meter. Which appeals to you more?


If life is a time, then let it be dawn,
A promise of new, then let it be Morn!

If life is a thread, then let it be spun
of silken shimmer delicately drawn,

If life is a road, then please walk, don't run
don't reach your goal before the day is done.

Don't just climb mountains, explore ev'ry vale,
don't hurry, to omit the winding trail.

Pause and rest, take time to ponder awhile,
remember, and relive with tender smile.
Meet new companions, form a happy band,
it's easier to tramp when hand-in-hand.

If one should slip, stretch out a helping hand,
if one should totter, then help him to stand,
but if one should walk apart, understand.

If you swelled his song, he built up your tale,
If you launched a boat, he unfurled the sail,
If for your burdens, shoulders he did loan,
Don't plead or demand, let him go alone!

Let him follow the piping that he hears,
and then as days turn into months and years,
if by puckish chance your paths should meet 'gain,
then 'twill again merge into one from twain!


(* Companions should be pronounced Comp- pan-yuns for this to work, and count it as three syllables; not four syllables as it should be, by strict standards.)