A Song  of One ~ A Song for Life

You taught us to sing a song of one, a melody we confidently know today,

          Notes of discipline, phrases of joy, and staffs full of love recalled this May.

Arms uplifted, our eyes magically meet yours, anticipating the musical fare,

          And when they come down, on the beat, a voice of one ~ fills the air.

What we learned there, on those risers, skinny bodies, pimples dotting our face,

          Were songs of love: singing courage, and strength, forgiveness, and grace.

Teaching us values in music, way beyond, Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes.

          Coach, you taught us friendship, focus and fun, and to be Owls so wise.

 Each new song of life, you demanded much from us, but gave us much as well,

          Teaching the common good, setting us upon our journey, our path, our trail.

Coach! How did you know? How did you know what we needed as our song?

          A teacher’s heart, no doubt, and paddle, teaching us right notes from wrong.

This spring we are all grown up now Coach, even our kids are grown up, too.

          But we can still sing that song you taught us, a song of life, so real, so true.

Thank you for giving us a gift, we’ve passed to many more, way more, than a few.

          Acapella was our song of one, our song of life, and now our song to you.

Richard D. Stafford, GHS Class of ’69, in Honor of Jim Henderson, our Coach.