Sharing Kaelan Palmer Paton's Legacy To Draw On His Courage, Skill and Great Love

Song for Kaelan Paton (1-6-1993 to 6-16-2009)-- by Catherine Palmer Paton, his mom on 6-16-2011

Here's to our Kaelan Alexander Palmer Paton

Who acted without hesitation

To do all he could to save each friend

Even if that might mean his end.

After school their group headed to the river

Trusting all to the life giver

To keep them safe as they jumped and swam

Celebrating summer and ways to win.

Yet whitewater trapped three boys

Kaelan hand-signalled "9-1-1" amidst loud noise.

Kaelan saved John and Richie by reaching out a hand

Skillfully and bravely while barely on land.

But to save the third he'd have to go farther,

Testing his power like his mother and father.

Kaelan gave his all to save the day,

Fighting to get Frankie out of the water.

Yet the two suddenly went under, near the falls of fury and thunder.

Somehow Frankie came back up above, yet Kaelan was guided to a new realm of love.

Then on a rope Skip came like an angel, Putting a halo around Frankie who was fragile.

Swept apart briefly by rushing waters, Skip then lifted Frankie up, losing no others.

Though the chances were bleak, Folks searched for Kaelan for a week.

Then a trainman spotted the teen hero near the Covered Bridge,

A place he loved and with a message to give:

Life is like a bridge to gently cross

Between birth and death we all feel loss.

But the gift of love is ours to give,

In how we die and how we live.

You're beautiful like a sparkling jewel.

Treating folks well is a magical tool.

Use your words to help put down the swords

Walk in peace and courage with honest words.

A new day dawns every morning.

Mortal Iife can end without warning.

Yet our love and spirit may move up and out,

Healing and helping many as our final shout.

Kaelan's love is growing stronger for a realm in which we linger longer

Still one day we will close our eyes to all we've been part of

To Join In with the love that comes from above.
♡