Let me tell you of a boy I know
A vibrant soul of tender years
Whose spirit and tenacity
And boundless generosity
Would carry him on manmade wings
To soar above his peers
A rosy cheek, and impish grin
An irreverence that made us laugh
No malice and no ill intent
No treachery contained within
This virtuous, devoted guide
Who led us down life's winding path
A loving son, a cherished brother
A compassionate and faithful lover
A rock and roller businessman
With cheerful smile and lifelong plan
Fastidious to the last
A dashing rogue who stole our hearts
Adventure found on distant shores
No map too wide to cover
Glowing embers on a grill
And conversation through the night
A glass or two of ruby cheer
The memories do linger still
Of foreign lands and business plans
The discourse of a mind in flight
And when dark clouds would gather round
And adversity might rear it's head
He would stand proudly side by side
His soul mate for eternity
To quell those fears of dread
We dream to conquer life's demands
And go where others fear to tread
For Paul those dreams consumed him so
And lifted him above the clouds
No inner voice to tell him no
With bold ambition and wings outspread
Contained behind a complex mind
The simple values of a boy
Whose diamond light outshone the stars
And carried him so very far
Away from one he loved the most
To pursue his mortal ploy
Let me tell you of a man I knew
Whose journey took him from our midst
And left us with a legacy
That we might also strive to find
The conqueror that lies within
And see our purpose through
His spirit will continue on
A higher calling to discover
And in the emptiness I've found
A soul I'm proud to call my brother.
Written and spoken at Paul's Memorial Service
by David Fewtrell
