Ode to Cecil

Once I had a mentor
Who saw inside of me
The courage and the strength
The capability
Both to stretch and to grow;
To bend and not break;
To lead and to follow;
To both give and to take.
And because of that belief
I too began to see
That life is a stream
Of endless possibility.

Once, I had a teacher
Who without taking lead
Shared wisdom and knowledge
For he truly believed
That it did not matter
Where the credit fell;
The task was important
And that it be done well.
Not by overshadowing
But by teaching side by side;
Calling me his colleague
And allowing me my pride.

Once, I had a true friend
Who extended his hand
When no one else would
Wanted to understand.
Who always found the time
Through there be none to spare
To listen, to comfort,
To help, and just to care.
Though he never realized
The gift he had bestowed;
Who without knowing it
Lit many a dark lonely road.

Though his body is gone
His spirit is here still
In my heart, in my soul,
In my strength and my will.
His lessons will live on
As I strive to teach
Those who would also have
A goal within their reach.
And each day I'll remember;
Each night as I kneel to pray
I'll say thanks for the blessing
That God saw fit to send my way.