One Clear Call

I had a different plan for this week's Poetry Friday, but someone I was very fond of passed away suddenly on Wednesday, so I am making today's post in his honor.

Dr. Michael Doran was the principal of my oldest child's high school. As I have mentioned before, I volunteer with the Reflections arts program so I knew Dr. Doran personally through that and I appreciated his enthusiasm for the arts. Additionally, I had the pleasure of hearing him speak many times, including graduation, where his speech was perhaps my favorite. Dr. Doran's wit, common sense, good nature, intelligence, and cheerfulness made him a very special person. My daughter summed it up: "He was the best."

Principal Michael Doran
Thomas S. Wootton High School

Dr. Doran was a fan of poetry. He was from Ireland and grew up in England, and he particularly enjoyed British poetry. My guess is that he liked If, Song of the Wandering Aengus, and The Cup, among many others. Here's Crossing the Bar by Alfred, Lord Tennyson in honor of Dr. D.:

Crossing The Bar
by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crost the bar.


The Poetry Friday round-up is at Reading to the Core.