Shall An Inspiration Be

10/26/2008

Re-dedication Elm Ceremony in the memory of our Beloved Brother, Robert

Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan

By: Will Hossain Omicron 2008

The Defiant Elm of Robert Hornbeck - Omicron 2008

In keeping with traditions
Of dear ol’ DKE
Our brother, he committed,
To serve the US Army.

Our brotherhood was quite relieved
For a picture that we had received
He bore our flag, red, blue and gold,
With Rampant Lion standing bold.

O’er seas he traveled
And survived the Iraq sands
To us he made gallant return
Once more to embrace our hands.

But, lo, a tragedy occurred
And shocked our Brotherhood
For Brother Robert Hornbeck fell
In a way not understood.

His memory, our goal to keep
We planted a young elm tree
But it suffered much, we were unsure
Whether that summer it would endure.

But the tree, just like its namesake
Was resilient and mighty strong
For it survived the wintry cold
And grew next summer long.

Another winter came
Another winter gone
We knew for sure this tree would live
Forever and anon.

Yet tragedy would strike again
The tree was torn asunder!
And woe beheld, dear Omicron
Whom questioned this new blunder.

Despite despair, we still took care
Watching after the marred remains
We trimmed the stump and weeded ‘round
Until there passed some rains.
Some weeks went by, and we did try
To replace the tattered sprout
When suddenly, appeared some green
As leaves began to sprout!

Adversary, can never break
Our bonds that bind us so
And like the roots o’ that tiny elm
We shall continuously grow.

Hornbeck’s spirit lives within
The tree that grows so ample.
So, Omicron, flourish and furnish
And follow this example.