Notes About The Poem

masterpieces

My average means I don’t have to take final exams.
So my bachelor's degree is a finished product.
I cranked it out, all that’s left now is the walk (May 18th).
Let’s call it my nearly forgotten masterpiece.
My schedule says that I start a 1-year ‘master of public health’ degree in 38 days.

It was my mom’s idea. She said, “You need to keep active” (pre- med-school).
It sounds crazier to me now than it did last year, when I was accepted and agreed.
Now, I feel like some chary, aging showgirl who’s about to be hustled back on-stage.
But what’s life without massive compromise?
Anyway, don’t cry for me. I’m still sizing it all up, I’ll figure it out.

I suppose we’re all out there hustling.
It’s our response to slowing med-school admissions,
those glitches in the medical, industrial education complex
or that’s how the narrative’s shaped, anyway.
It’s not the additional work that bothers me, I’m regular worker bee,

It’s the perma-threat of loneliness.
I’m already packing. Leaving feels real
and I'm surfing this maudlin wave tonight—shading deep blue.
The simple march of time will take away friends I’ve grown to love.
We’ve allegorised and transformed one another by proximity.

I’ve really loved it here.
.
.
Songs for this:
Graduation (Friends Forever) by Vitamin C
Graduation Day by Tony Rivers & The Castaways
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025

Poem

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Fallica Avatar
April 30, 2025 at 12:14 PM
R U OK?
Vionet Avatar
May 1, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Hey Vin, Of course, I'm just in an entropic phase - doing the minimums for a few weeks. I hope you're ok too. I have to admit that I'm enjoying just doing nothing =]
Fallica Avatar
April 21, 2025 at 8:38 AM
PS. Tee shirt, torn jeans, pizza, a martini, and a sideways glance. I LOVE this photo!
Vionet Avatar
April 21, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Three days before reading period and wer'e done. Is it mean to say were 'catching looks' from all the poor pinkertons who didn't work quite hard enough to avoid final exams? In the words of of the late Dwight D. Eisenhower: "Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke." =]
Fallica Avatar
April 21, 2025 at 8:04 AM
<3 . You don’t need me to tell you to hang on to your squad. I didn’t through my journey. After I retired and was not occupied with being a productive member of society, I found myself missing people in my life that I hadn’t before. (cont.)
Vionet Avatar
April 21, 2025 at 9:30 AM
I started campaigning, several weeks ago, for one last week of group, St. Tropez vacation. "Come ON, one last hurrah?! Like we did after frosh year? All expenses paid?! I can hook you up!" 2 years ago I got all 7 of them to go, this year, they all have family graduation commitments. *sigh*
Fallica Avatar
April 21, 2025 at 8:04 AM
With not a little effort, I’ve managed to dig a few of them up after 30, 40, 50 plus years ago. They were pieces I didn’t realize I was missing until I stopped running. . . . You’ve got so many new people to meet. Don’t let the immediacy of the present cause you to replace those you’ve known as I had. (Imagine a blue heart emoji here.)
Vionet Avatar
April 21, 2025 at 9:34 AM
I'm going to stay in touch. I'm going to try.We all know what busy is though. *sigh*
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