The Zone of Love

It's hard to believe it, but our time here has passed,
And although it's been grueling, it's arrived much too fast,
For we've come to a cadence that signals an end
To our time with our wonderful colleagues and friends
As we sing here together, ninety voices as one
Remembering four years of laughter and fun.

Ev'ry Tuesday and Thursday, we've rehearsed here together,
Through teachers' strikes, midterms, and inclement weather.
Some members live nearby, others live far away,
And although some are students, there are some here to stay.
Some of us are just eighteen, and others much older
Some hang back in the chorus, while others are bolder,
For, unlike the shy folk, they like to take chances,
As they belt out their solos, and twirl through their dances.
We're not all the same, but that difference is small,
For the choir is a family, comprised of us all.

But there's someone to thank here before we depart,
Who's invested himself, with all of his heart
To conducting, and leading, and coaching our choir,
With a spirit inside him that glows like a fire,
That burns with persistence, through frigid dark nights,
Giving warmth, strength, and hope with its beacon of light.

To some, he's just Jamie, but to us, he's our rock,
As he leads us through practices all 'round the clock,
Through triumphs and struggles, mistakes, and successes,
Through many emergencies, mix-ups, and messes,
We share inside jokes, we laugh, cry, and bond,
From September to April, from Bandeen to beyond.

He's wise, and he's funny, and patient, and kind,
With a sharp sense of humour and a brilliant mind,
And a love for all music, from the Beatles to Bach,
And he motivates us with his rousing pep talks,
As the time moves more quickly, and performances loom,
There's a passion inside him that fills the whole room,
As he stands on the stage, at the helm of the choir,
And conducts us with fervour (as he glows and perspires),
Which spills into backstage as he slaps us high-five,
While beaming with joy at just being alive
In this moment with us, as we all sing together,
I wish that those moments could go on forever.

But, as we bid farewell to our colleagues and friends,
We know that this cadence isn't really an end,
For, although we must move on, the mem'ries will thrive,
As a ray of sunshine in our young-adult lives.
We'll be back for more concerts, we'll come one and all,
And watch our young colleagues, as they fill up the hall,
With their voices together, full of joy, hope, and pride,
We'll know from their faces that they're loving the ride.

For the Zone of Love isn't a physical place,
It's the billion-watt smile stretched 'cross Jamie's proud face,
It's the kindness, acceptance, patience, and compassion,
Even when we are hopelessly burning and crashin'.
It's the songs belted out, from eleven till dawn
At the final choir party, with nary a yawn,
For we work hard, we play hard, and we do it together,
And we know that that feeling will last us forever.
As we move up and onwards, to grad school and above,
Our hearts will stay always, in the Zone of Love.