You were the smiling pope,
And I remember that I liked that,
I was just starting college,
Making a fresh new start
To my young immature life,
You gave me hope,
Hope that my faith could be
More alive, more meaningful,
But after only 33 days,
You suddenly departed
For our Heavenly Homeland,
Yet your papacy was significant,
Like the ornate prologue to
A magnificent epic poem,
Your papacy prepared us
For the saintly Polish pope
Who would follow you
In your warm welcoming ways.