Laurie's Legacy Poem by Charlotte Peters Rock

Stately in - between the lace
Queen Anne has sent to cheer the Spring
The long black car - its resting man
Below the flowers - in the wood
Process to find his weary settled space

A row of cars loops at the rear
Between the lace - behind the first
Their people bringing home the man
Born out of time - across the world
But latterly he lived and worked round here

This stronger man than anyone
Who strode a world he would improve
He kindly trod - a certain man
A man you'd trust - A will - He would
Take up the wrongs - replace - and bid them gone

And there the chapel filled with sound
As those who valued all his days
Recounted gratitude - The man
Whose life has gone - whose life was worn
Below his intellect - to pace the ground

No matter what his origin
Because his life was trimmed and shaped
His strong response made him the man
Whose actions - set against the worst
Were carefully designed to win - and won

His loss is ours - and still his mind
Will influence the world he left
The space inside our heart - The man
Still stands his ground - His honest word
Will echo on - determinedly and kind

Now who will lift his cloak of care
Pick up his gauntlet - Throw it down
Accept that change brought by this man
Whose price - far higher than his work
Enforced for good - where others didn't dare


09May2011 CPR