Farewell to Rolf

To Be Read by Michael H.

As our first Coordinateur du Run

Rolf found the very first Z at LEP I.

(He always asked, "What time is it?" A sign

He had no watch. I gave him mine.)

When Aldo stepped down, what could we do

But ask Rolf to lead us into LEP II?

He kept our goal and built CJ;

Writes a letter of recommendation each day.

It's written: each Z is sacred and great,

If a Z's wasted, Rolf gets irate.

He has accepted as his due

A coffee for each W.

Herding cats has made his hair turn gray;

I guess that's why he's going away.

I thought that he would take this chance

To move to someplace deep in France

And drink red wine under blue skies so clear -

But he's chosen DESY and St. Pauli Girl beer.

We'll have to address him as Herr Professor;

He'll have two big Swiss guards outside of his door.

But though Hamburg is cloudy and rainy and far,

We're not saying Farewell, but Tschuess or Au Revoir.

It's time for a spokesman who's English and urbane,

So Rolf said "I volunteer you" to Dave Plane.

OPAL keeps changing, with losses and gains

(Though I'm sure we'll do fine long as Mette remains.)

Without Rolf here, OPAL just won't be the same;

But if it's less perfect, we'll know who to blame. [smile at D.P]

Oh, something to think about, Rolf, while you pack:

When do I finally get my watch back?