Clearly the Same Thing

My toaster and my degree—what a pair! Both burn things, but only one gets me stares. The toaster? Crisp bread. The degree? My soul. Both deliver heat, but only one leaves a hole. Pop in a slice, out comes toast—so clear. Pop into debt, four years disappear. Toaster: stainless steel, works every time. Degree: looks great when you're out of dimes. They both have slots. One for bread. One for hope. One feeds your mouth, the other... helps you cope. So next time you ask if I’m using my B.A.— Yes. It holds up my toaster. Every day.