'Twas a good and kind and gentle light that news arrived  and doused tonight ne'er more to flicker nor warm nor dance save in the memories of them who by chance had known the man with laughing eyes before he loosed his earthly ties and shouldst thou ask i would attest to count his spirit  among the best for in pints and letters  were brothers we and where falls one then so falls me but to a different  dark repose than thee to chain a last verse as you fly free