A La Salle Brother Died Today
A Eulogy for Br. Benedict by Edwin Lee
He
was getting old and paunchy, and his hair was falling fast
And he
travels around the regions, telling stories of the past,
Of the
school that he taught in and the deeds that he had done
And the
exploits of his students; bigger than life, everyone.
And 'tho
sometimes to his friends, his tales became a joke,
All his old
students listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll
hear his tales no longer, for Brother Ben has passed away
And the
world's a little poorer, for a La Salle brother died today.
No he
won't be mourned by many, no children and no wife,
For he lived an
ordinary very quiet sort of life.
He helped the school and alumni,
quietly going on his way;
And the world won't note his passin';
'tho a brother died today.
When politicians leave this earth,
their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing and
proclaim that they were great,
Papers tell of their life stories
from the time that they were young,
But the passing of a La Salle
brother goes unnoticed, and unsung.
Is the greatest
contribution to the welfare of our land
Some jerk who breaks his
promise and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary brother who even
in times of war and strife
Stays and serves our country and
sometimes has to offer up his life?
The politicians stipend and the
style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate to the
services he gives,
While the ordinary brother, who offered up his
all,
Is paid off with nary a medal, with perhaps a pension small.
It's so easy to forget them, for it was so long ago
That
our Brother Gabriel and Brother Ben taught us, but we know
It was
not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,
Who taught us
about religion, morals and values that our country now enjoys.
As we find our sons and daughters ready for college with elections at
hand,
Do we really want some cop-out leaders with their ever
waffling stand?
Or would you want him to be educated by a brother
who has sworn to each about religion, morals and values and would teach
until the very end?
He was one of La Salle's brothers and
their ranks are growing thin
But his demise should remind us, we
will need his kind again.
For when our country is in conflict, then
we find the brother's part
Is to clean up all the troubles that
the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor while he's here to
hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage at the ending
of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in the paper that
might say:
OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, FOR A LA SALLE BROTHER HAS DIED TODAY.