They looked like four suitcases
the dormitories near campus
as I drove north on I-35 to Ames
going back for sophomore year.
They glistened under the late
afternoon sun and spoke to me
in a moment of sorrow and joy.
Come back, come back—
this is your time and place.
I had stumbled freshman year
suffered a break-up
changed majors and bore
depression, all on a rough
path of discovery to find
who I truly was.
The tires of my mom’s Mustang
sang, and most of my journey
there was already behind me
as I grasped the steering wheel.
The car moved ahead
along a fine ribbon
of concrete.
The vision welcomed me.
I looked past fields
as landscape rested
and past a grove of trees.
I took a deep breath
as I looked at The Towers.
Although summer passed
with a whisper, my year
had just begun.
First year, I lived in Nelson Rockefeller’s room
Next year, in that of Doctor Seuss
Yet I never made a fortune
Or wrote a children’s book
My parents had to wonder
Where I learned to cook their goose
______________________________________________________
This is 100% true:
Dartmouth College is an elite 'Ivy Leage School',
like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc.
Freshman year, I lived in 401 Hitchcock, 'Nelly's room'
Sophomore year - 105 Gile, 'Theodor Gisell's room'
... And I became an underpaid English teacher. LOL.
(translated from Giosue Carducci)
I dream of gentle things. My freshman year,
a room where sun poured in, freedom from books,
the thundering carts on cobbles in the via,
a wreath of sorghum round my neck. To look
out from my window was unbroken joy:
one way those flower-carpeted old hills,
the other, sparkling shoreline: still a boy,
I splashed out on a suit, and shirts with frills!
I'll never know that animal verve again.
I'm sure that glittering sea, those slumbering isles,
were not like now, prosaic. And summer rain,
I swear, on mornings when it caught me, smiled.
My friend most beautiful
sat shoulder to shoulder with me
after the lights went low
and the show began.
We took in ballad after ballad
the tender voice hour after hour
and a spell was cast.
The song of Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
spoke to me— I could almost cry.
I glanced at her
and she looked straight ahead.
This was the night I wanted for months
although we had some casual dates
o the times when I pleaded for more
but tonight she was so tender
when I put my arm around her shoulder.
I knew the night was good for her
when we stepped out the elevator
onto her dormitory floor
and the music resonated in my mind.
The taste of her kiss was so sweet
on that special night.
She must have known
it was our last.
I remember that day clearly
even though it was 37 years ago-
I was off on a new adventure
because I had just moved into
the dorm for my freshman year of college
but I had no idea how my life was going
to change in a very simple moment
I went to the student center to pick up
my schedule and register being there
before classes started the next day
I remember feeling nervous about
not knowing anyone and being an introvert
in a totally new situation is hard,
but then...........the person in front of me
asked if he could borrow my pen
and it began.........a life long friendship
just chatting and sharing our schedules
and noticing we had FIVE classes together
I know now that it was meant to be....
the beginning of a beautiful friendship!
If freshman year was aspirational
and sophomore year was unhinged
junior year was put up or shut up
and senior year is a dash to the finish line
This year’s on fast forward—and it’s for keeps
every to-do list has value-laden questions
things seem sharp edged, single use and intense
it’s all about trajectories and ‘landing spots”
Let’s wax poetic..
Produce now, or spend fury on thyself—all else is untenable
we’re past youth and ignorance—your honour’s at stake
Suitors call you by name, like well-acquainted friends
they took your measure—you’re beyond the mark of others
they seduce with money—the future brings liberty and noble deeds.
So don the the garland and prove thyself—take the field
join the battle—now’s the reward—aidless, perpetual toil
with every motion be right, it’s thy shunless destiny.
.
.
A song for this:
A Man of Great Promise by The Style Council
Headstart For Happiness by The Style Council
In the sixties I went to university
where I experienced much diversity
For example, among fraternities
mine went from ‘Kegs-a-Tappin’
to ‘Pills-a-Poppin’
~ LSD, we were a-droppin’
Athletics were a big deal too
freshman year we were football champs
senior year, listened to Led Zeppelin’s mega-amps
Then there was good old politickin’
After Kent State life was great
Semester cancelled, May 14 the date…
To let us work for our 'favorite candidate'
Mine wore 6-inch heels, raised my pulse rate…
Oh, I learned a whole lot in school
~ mostly, how to break the rules
It was you
From the first day of sixth grade
When I was scared and awkward and pimplily
It was you
The next two years
Through braces and glasses and first my first period
It was you
Freshman year when you stole all the girls hearts
But sometimes I wondered if you'd rather give yours to me instead
It was you
The rest of high school when we only grew closer
But I finally blossomed and was a heartbreaker too
It was you
After graduation when when be both questioned it out loud
Even after you shattered my heart because you couldn't follow through
It's still you now
With your stupid flirty jokes
With the pain I burry deep down behind smiling eyes
It’s still you now
As your new girl friends keep coming
And my old boyfriends keep going
It’s still you now
While I scream internally every second I’m with you
And the way I crave your touch far beyond a goodbye hug
It's always you
In between all the heart breaks
After one to many drinks when you lean in a little too close
It’s just you
And I can't let that go no matter how hard I try
And I don’t want to
Because it’s you
I remember those high school years
When being popular was so important,
I tried so hard to fit in with my peers.
Each grade was like changing gears
Readjusting to teachers was torment,
I remember those high school years.
I spent lots of time in laughter and tears
Some years wondering what it all meant,
I tried so hard to fit in with my peers.
Freshman year was rampant with fears,
Hoping the dean’s office never to be sent
I remember those high school years.
All through the sports’ jocks nasty sneers
I was a band boy carrying my instrument,
I tried so hard to fit in with my peers.
I think I may have even tried a few beers
Some credence with the guys that lent,
I remember those high school years
I tried so hard to fit in with my peers.
Written April 3, 2022
My first foray onto the stage my freshman year
I played the part of a journalist in only one scene
so I understood why no one I knew would attend
By my last production as a senior
I was the star of the show but you’d never know
After delivering my last line
the curtain falling for the final time
I waited with the rest of the cast backstage
as their families and friends flooded in
complementing their performances
as they filled their arms with flowers
scenting the air like a florist shop
while I stood solitary, my own empty
Leaving the building I saw a single rose
lying on the sidewalk that had slipped
from someone’s bouquet
on their way to the parking lot
Picking it up I inhaled its perfume
as I walked the dark streets alone
back home to discover my mother
wrapped in a robe reclining in her rocking chair
like an old lady though she was only thirty five then
smoking a cigarette in front of the TV
my father fidgeting with his toy car collection
neither saying a word as if I were a ghost they couldn’t see
I grabbed a glass from the cabinet in the kitchen filling it from the sink
inserting the stem of that one red rose which wasn’t meant for me
Sandra is early
She creeps in
sits in the last seat in the back
her head is down
she wants no one to see her
luckily no one ever does
Chuck is loud and proud
coming in surrounded by his posse
They also march to the back
One yells at Sandra to move
She moves to the last chair
without speaking or lifting her head
Terry sits in the front row
no one knows if she is a she or a he
his/her hand is always up
he/she knows all the answers
if the teacher stops calling on him/her
he/she yells out the answers
English 101 Freshman Year 2019
Of my 36 halves: The latter, spent
accruing 2 subtracted former halves,
is 9, if equal parts divided mint
2 quarters passed 1 – done (tequila math).
Those under 18 have no place in this.
I was 19 when I first learned to drink.
Keystone my freshman year; soph’moric Schlitz.
2 Jager bombed thirsts forced a senior’s shrink.
That 25 uncorked a loveless wine
meant 29 bed wedded Chuckie Cheese.
30 went sober with vows on the line,
so - it's been over the last 6 of these.
What all it equates to? 1 sweet tasty thought:
Deep swallows of Brandy (candied apricot).
(after Giosue Carducci)
I dreamed of gentle things. My freshman year,
a room where sun poured in, freedom from books,
the thundering carts on cobbles in the via,
a wreath of sorghum round my neck. To look
out from my window was unbroken joy:
one way those flower-carpeted old hills,
the other, sparkling shoreline: still a boy,
I splashed out on a suit, and shirts with frills!
I'll never know that animal verve again.
I'm sure that glittering sea, those slumbering isles,
were not like now, prosaic. And summer rain,
I swear, on mornings when it caught me, smiled.
Freshman year was a breakout year for me,
I maintained a positive attitude.
This was someone I did not used to be,
Through that year I gained so much gratitude.
Year two was by far the year of heartbreaks,
a lot of my family members had died.
I was so mentally messed up it aches,
When Darion had passed I sat and cried.
Junior year was the best year of my life,
I pulled off the best grades in my career.
Even though it gave me a lot of strife,
I wanted to kick back and sip a beer.
Senior year is coming to an end quick,
Can not wait to laugh and share one last pic.
During last night’s draft coverage, ESPN would reveal
that the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles made a deal.
At the last minute, Philadelphia sent their first-round pick
to Cleveland for two Browns choices in a move that was quick.
With pick number twenty-two, the Browns chose Johnny Manziel.
This was a move many Browns fans thought was swell.
Cleveland folks will be happy as hell welcoming him here.
He was the first Heisman Trophy winner in his freshman year.
Johnny hopes to bring the Browns back to respectability this season.
Cleveland is quite happy, and Johnny is the reason.
From a sports news story found on ESPN.com
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