For Mr Laloux
You are not here.
Years upon years
you had of life,
its cheers and jeers.
A knight you were.
Church music grew
and took more life
because of you.
So many boys,
now men, you caught
their music, and
helped tune their thought.
A teacher who
knew music’s peal,
made it ring true,
himself as real.
A teacher who
discarded fame.
You did not try
for a fine name
But worked with boys.
There is a floor
that knows your sound
for evermore.
So what of you
we inherit,
bumbling tread,
cheerful spirit,
And light grand art –
at times a word
of a life-speech
stays on, is heard
For centuries.
And so with you:
you stump through time,
Fernand Laloux,
Wise and whistling,
doing things well.
But first the sound
of the church-bell.