Should You Go First
Should you go first and I remain
To walk the road alone,
I’ll live in memory’s garden, dear,
With happy days we’ve known.
In Spring I’ll watch for roses red
When fades the lilac blue,
In early Fall when brown leaves call
I’ll catch a glimpse of you.
Should you go first and I remain
For battles to be fought,
Each thing you’ve touched along the way
Will be a hallowed spot.
I’ll hear your voice, I’ll see your smile,
Though blindly I may grope,
The memory of your helping hand
Will buoy me on with hope.
Should you go first and I remain
To finish with the scroll
No length’ning shadows shall creep in
To make this life seem droll.
We’ve known so much of happiness,
We’ve had our cup of joy
And memory is one gift of God
That death cannot destroy.
Should you go first and I remain
One thing I’d have you do;
Walk slowly down that long, lone path,
For soon I’ll follow you.
I’ll want to know each step you take
That I may walk the same.
For someday, down that lonely road,
You’ll hear me call your name.
by Albert Rowswell
Albert Kennedy ‘Rosey’ Rowswell was born on 1 February 1884 in Alton, Illinois, United States of America. He was a sports radio broadcaster and a poet. He wrote the poem “Should You Go First” for his wife. Albert Kennedy ‘Rosey’ Rowswell passed on at 71 years of age on 6 February 1955 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
Should you go first and I remain
To walk the road alone,
I’ll live in memory’s garden, dear,
With happy days we’ve known.
In Spring I’ll watch for roses red
When fades the lilac blue,
In early Fall when brown leaves call
I’ll catch a glimpse of you.
Should you go first and I remain
For battles to be fought,
Each thing you’ve touched along the way
Will be a hallowed spot.
I’ll hear your voice, I’ll see your smile,
Though blindly I may grope,
The memory of your helping hand
Will buoy me on with hope.
Should you go first and I remain
To finish with the scroll
No length’ning shadows shall creep in
To make this life seem droll.
We’ve known so much of happiness,
We’ve had our cup of joy
And memory is one gift of God
That death cannot destroy.
Should you go first and I remain
One thing I’d have you do;
Walk slowly down that long, lone path,
For soon I’ll follow you.
I’ll want to know each step you take
That I may walk the same.
For someday, down that lonely road,
You’ll hear me call your name.
by Albert Rowswell
Albert Kennedy ‘Rosey’ Rowswell was born on 1 February 1884 in Alton, Illinois, United States of America. He was a sports radio broadcaster and a poet. He wrote the poem “Should You Go First” for his wife. Albert Kennedy ‘Rosey’ Rowswell passed on at 71 years of age on 6 February 1955 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
2 Comments
In Memory of Jim Sawyer ( James R. Sawyer) June 2010.
Beautiful poem of memories. Read at the memorial service for my wife, Marcia(63 years of marriage) Aug 2020
