Accolades and silver tarnish.

Epitaphs and flowers fade.

One’s hero, another’s villain,

Truth lies cold in the grave.

Bonds of long fellowship broken.

Bands of true brotherhood shorn.

Arrows swift loosed hastily.

Ties that bind now torn.

Sure hands falter, senses dim.

Pure hearts stutter in dismay.

Troth and pledge all but forgotten,

Trampled, left to decay.

Gnarled and bent, our best efforts.

Cobbled anew, our perfect plans.

Fearful, frantic, proud, gigantic,

Hovels built on sinking sand.

Wretchedness, thou great and vile!

Who shall deliver from this death?

Behold, One as a Lamb but slain,

Restores spirit, soul, and breath.

Bright Hope breaks o’er the horizon,

Truest Light that ever shone,

On that Day of sorrow ended,

When we know, fully known.