Th’ Inevitable Hour
June 13, 2010 Posted by Roger Overton
Many of you are likely well aware of former coach John Wooden, who passed away just over a week ago. Wooden’s favorite poem was “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” by Thomas Gray. After hearing this referenced a few times I made a point of looking it up. It’s certainly worth a read. Here’s an excerpt:
The boast of heraldry, the pomp of pow’r,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e’er gave,
Awaits alike th’ inevitable hour.
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.Nor you, ye proud, impute to these the fault,
If Mem’ry o’er their tomb no trophies raise,
Where thro’ the long-drawn aisle and fretted vault
The pealing anthem swells the note of praise.Can storied urn or animated bust
Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath?
Can Honour’s voice provoke the silent dust,
Or Flatt’ry soothe the dull cold ear of Death?
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June 13th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Thanks for this, Roger. It’s been so nice to see people all over the Web paying tribute to Coach. And man, does that poem sum it up!
I had the privilege of meeting him once, briefly, at one of his book signings, and he was so gracious and humble and warm. I’m looking forward to meeting him again someday.