Christopher Flaherty Poet Free verse

Final Exam Passing Out Parade 3rd Degree

Because this here is your passing 
out parade doth your cap and gown

This here I don't know if you if you are 
aware or know it yet

But also the end of what was once
your student life I hope you kissed
it a fond farewell and goodbye

As your days spent on scholastic 
dissertation theoretical drunken debate
expressing your altruistic views putting 
the world's wrongs to right in some or 
other cheap backstreet pub

And pack away your monogrammed
slogan t-shirts and swap your long hair
and man-bun for a short back and side's

Because you my friend I am sorry
to inform have finally just crossed over
to the dark side

Welcome to the big wide world we have
been expecting you

And though you now have in your possession
a certificate denoting you are university
standard educated and have letters
to accompany your name as proof 

Nothing you learned or where taught
be that even higher level education
would or could possibly have prepared
you for the harsh reality life has in-store 

And unlike school which eventually
runs and has a predetermined course
over a precise timeline 

Life means life and the remainder of
your's has just begun starting now 

The time has come for you to put your
degree to some use find a job buy
a car and a house somewhere to rent 
or buy 

And oh did I forget to mention most
importantly of all

Start paying back whatever student loans
you took out compounding interest that
got you where you stand today 

Until your 10 year graduation reunion
comes around and is the 1 and only 
topic of discussion that everyone
still have left in common 

Same old people as before now
just all grown up replaced with
long drawn faces 

That once sparkled with aspiration 
instilled with dream's of changing
the world and making it a better place

Who now wish for nothing more than
to be able to put food on the table and
go to sleep without the fear of the power
being cut off 

Not the 3rd degree or lecture

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David Kavanagh September 7, 2022 at 12:34 PM Ah yes Christopher, big difference in a rich family putting someone through 3rd level education, than having to fund it ourselves with student loans or part-time jobs, I enjoyed your wit involved here the long hair and buns, and knowing how to save the world, but once college is over unless a prodigy, or already rich, the stark reality hits like a ton of bricks, cheers David Christopher Flaherty September 13, 2022 at 2:33 PM Grades for Cash Your Lordship