by Caroline Kelly,
July ,
2006.
Our
friend Roland has gone to rest
We
miss him loads; we wish him the best
He
has gone to make pastures new,
To
make new friends, we wish him adieu.
Now
Roland was one of a kind.
A
nicer person you would not find.
Ask
him a question he always had an answer,
But
one thing's for sure he never was a dancer.
Never
light on his feet, never twinkle toes,
But
where Roland went everyone goes -
With a
laugh and a joke and a smile on his face
Not
known for his timekeeping, he was always late
With
his love of music and his fancy words
His
articulation would scare the birds.
We
smiled and nodded at things he had to say
Never
thinking that we would reach this day
Where
our favourite person in all the world
Is
smiling down on us not saying a word
We
love him, we miss him, we wish he was here
With
his cheeky grin and his blond like hair.
As he
sat and pondered at what he had to say
He
would have an opinion come what may.
As
you look down on us from the sky above
Our
hearts are filled with lots of love.
For
Roland you are a brother and a son
You've
entered a new life your work here is done
Watch
over and guide us lead us on our way
We
will all meet up together on another day
This
Ode is for you from your family and friends
A new
beginning its not the end
Also
sadly missed by your colleagues in work
Go n'eithri an bóthar leat, Roland Burke