in recollection

we were not members of a fighting band
your mind and ours could not one one thing meet
still you showed that you had the strongest hand
so memory tells us and the thought's still sweet
i'd give so much if i could once more greet
you as i did when young and filled with pride
for even now i cannot feel complete
six years have passed since i learned you had died

there's so much i still cannot understand
about the way that time becomes so fleet
while life's own taste turns out to be more bland
you hated to explain or to repeat
or have your business in the public street
the pain you felt you always had to hide
as fitted one made for the judgment-seat
six years have passed since i learned you had died

the past you said was never great or grand
you threatened but you rarely had to beat
what mattered most of all was owning land
and standing up upon your proper feet
being honest upright fair and always neat
ready to know and take the better side
never to bow the head in frank defeat
six years have passed since i learned you had died

prince you were not you had no great conceit
of what you were but what you knew applied
to all that we could do to face the heat
and keep our place in spite of the great tide
without dishonour and without deceit
six years have passed since i learned you had died