EPITAPH FOR A DEAD YOUTH (FROM AN IRISH DEATH CARD)

I'LL LEND YOU FOR A LITTLE WHILE A CHILD OF MINE, GOD SAID, FOR YOU TO CHERISH WHILE HE LIVES, AND MOURN FOR WHEN HE IS DEAD.
OR TWENTY-TWO OR THREE; BUT WILL YOU,'TIL I CALL HIM HOME,
LOOK AFTER HIM FOR ME! IT MAY BE SIX OR SEVEN YEARS

 HE'LL BRING HIS LOVE TO GLADDEN YOU, AND SHOULD HIS STAY BE BRIEF, YOU'LL HAVE A HOST OF MEMORIES AS SOLACE FOR YOUR GRIEF.
I CANNOT PROMISE HE WILL STAY, SINCE ALL FROM EARTH RETURN, BUT THERE ARE LESSONS TAUGHT BELOW I WANT THIS CHILD TO LEARN.

I'VE LOOKED THE WHOLE WORLD OVER IN MY SEARCH FOR TEACHERS TRUE AND, FROM THE THRONG THAT CROWD LIFE'S LANE AT LAST I'VE CHOSEN YOU.
NOW WILL YOU GIVE HIM ALL YOUR LOVE, NOR THINK YOUR LABOR VAIN, AND TURN AGAINST ME WHEN I COME TO TAKE HIM BACK AGAIN)

I FANCIED THAT I HEARD YOU SAY
"DEAR LORD, YOU WILL BE DONE!" FOR ALL THE JOY YOUR CHILD
SHALL BRING THE RISK OF GRIEF WE'LL RUN.

"WE'LL SHELTER HIM WITH TENDERNESS; WE'LL LOVE HIM WHILE WE MAY, AND FOR THE HAPPINESS WE'VE KNOWN FOREVER GRATEFUL STAY.
BUT SHOULD THE ANGELS CALL HIM MUCH SOONER THAN WE PLANNED, WE'LL BRAVE THE BITTER GRIEF THAT COMES AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND.

I'LL LEND YOU FOR A LITTLE WHILE A CHILD OF MINE, GOD SAID,
FOR YOU TO CHERISH WHILE HE LIVES, AND MOURN FOR WHEN HE'S DEAD.

IN MEMORY OF CHRISTOPHER FORSYTH, JUNE 28, 1997