BEFORE I LEAVE

BEFORE I LEAVE

TO HEAVEN WHERE MY SOUL’S REST SHALL BE

I SHALL TOUR THE EARTH’S FAR ENDS

TO GIVE TROUBLED LIVES MY SOOTHING HANDS

I SHALL, THE POOR, ENRICH

WITH THE ALL OF ME THAT I HAVE TO GIVE

THE LACKING SHALL INHERIT MY WEALTH

TO THE HOMELESS I SHALL WILL MY TENT

MY SIBLINGS SHALL HAVE NO CAUSE TO MOURN

‘COS TIME MY STORY SHALL TELL

WHEN I’M GONE

BEFORE I LEAVE

I SHALL SING A SONG

THAT WILL ENDURE TILL THE END

A MELODY OF WHICH SHALL LINGER

LONG AFTER I’M TURNED TO DUST

FOREVER IN THE HEARTS OF MEN

TO QUELL THEIR TROUBLES;

TO PROVIDE LIGHT FOR THEIR DARK STRUGGLES

THE RHYTHM OF IT SHALL ESCORT MY SOUL

ITS ECHO SHALL GUIDE ME HOME

EVEN AS THE CURTAIN OF MY LIFE COMES

TO ITS GLORIOUS CLOSE.

- MacHenry Churchill