It is time, from hearth and home to depart,
For you to fill your pack, shoulder your load,
To walk alone now that gray wintry road;
Where you will wander I can have no part,
Before you leave you shall cut from my heart
The brotherhood which we together sowed
Gath’ring from ours what you feel you are owed
Making of our end your own fresher start.
I cannot fault you for this your hard choice,
No more than I can follow where you go,
But if I may here one thing only stress
From halls now absent your echoing voice
Let it be this: always trust, ever know
That daily I’ll pray the Lord you to bless.