Beneath the facades of buildings that dot this island,
Are iron frames whose arms stretch wide,
Holding high and strong the mighty girders.
All our hope and faith are built outward from these heroic beams,
Allowing us to learn and live and laugh and play,
Under their reliable care and protection.
We breathe the blessed civic air they exhale,
Character rich and sweet,
Lucky recipients of their selfless gifts.
This magic land lost a sacred structure when Don Sherratt died.
Olympian in spirit with renowned warmth and generosity,
He was part of every school and ballfield all across our island,
Inspiring a generation to follow his lead,
And care for your family, your community, and uphold the future.
As a young teacher his confidence and assurance inspired me,
To do my best for the children of this town,
For whom he cared so much and worked so hard.
We who grieve your passing pledge to hold hands tightly,
In your name, to steady all you built.
Gene Kahane is the founder of the Foodbank Players, a lifelong teacher, and former Poet Laureate for the City of Alameda. He was an AUSD teacher from 1987 through 2019. Reach him at [email protected]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Gene-Kahane.
