The time you won your town the race,
we cheered you through the marketplace.
Man and boy stood cheering by
as home we brought you shoulder-high…
Smart lad to slip betimes away
from field where glory does not stay…
Early through the laurel grows,
it withers quicker than a rose
Now you will not swell the rout
of lads that wore their honors out,
runners whom renown out ran,
….and the name died before the man….
And ‘round that early laurelled head
will flock to gaze the strengthless dead…
And find unwithered on its curls….
a garland briefer than a girl’s.
Now take back the spirit of Aaron Nathanael Barnard,
whom has momentarily been shared with us.
He brought us honesty, courtesy, courage, integrity,
honor, duty, sincerity and compassion
He brought us joy……
……and we loved him well.
He was not ours.
He was not mine.
Terry Forbord - 10/1/2008