Father, unto thy hands do we commit
The spirit of our friend, who hath been borne
Aloft by angels, now henceforth to sit
Amongst thy choir, his earthly life outworn.
Lord, we are left behind to sit and moan
The passing of this friend, and now do wait
Until each of us cast off flesh and bone,
As is required of human faith and fate.
Rejoice! Rejoice! The Kingdom is at hand,
And this one goes before us as he did
In life, a sentinel, of thy scheme grand,
Though what thy purpose is, remaineth hid.
Rejoice! Rejoice! And let thy gates receive
This gracious spirit, who from us did leave.
God bless him, Lord, and let us ever treasure
The legacy that he hath left behind
In every human heart; joy without measure
And love as is so very hard to find.
The depth and breadth far-reaching, nearly boundless
Of generosity which he bestowed
On many, though his passing nearly soundless
Hath left not few our debt forever owed.
Let us repay the living! with such grace
And kindness as it was our luck to learn
From him, though nevermore his fleshly face
Before our fleshly eyes can now return.
Deep chiseled in the heart do I retain
The memory time’s hand can never stain.
Father, unto thy hands let us commit
The spirit of Paul Carroll, from us torn
Who have been left to weep, and moan, and flit,
Until we too in death are newly born.
O dark! The passing of a friend is dire
Yet we retain the blessing of a life
Remembered of a soul which did not tire
Amidst the world’s injustice, rancor, strife.
Truly, let us rejoice, that one has lived
So honestly and joyfully, despite
Harsh sprites of fortune; that has now arrived
Unto thy gates of splendor’s ceaseless light.
Yea, happy, happy we, his students, friends,
Beloved bereft: thy mercy never ends.
Heavenly Father, let us sing and shout
Thy praises, who hast fashioned out of clay
A spirit whose bold light did not go out
Extinguished ere the passing of his day.
No, never, let us weep who have been blessed
In having known, been touched by, having loved
His soul magnificent, now soul at rest,
Whose memory shall never be removed.
Eternal monument we dedicate
To you within our hearts; and I give thanks,
Paul, for the love beyond all estimate
Which you have shown, so rare-found in the ranks
In modern poetdom’s vacuous tavern:
Let me beside you sit in Mermaid’s Tavern.