poetry

"Bright College Days"

Bright college days,oh, carefree days that fly,
To thee we sing with our glasses raised on high. [holds up eyeglasses]
Let's drink a toast as each of us recalls
Ivy-covered professors in ivy-covered halls.

Turn on the spigot,
Pour the beer and swig it,
And gaudeamus igit-itur.

Here's to parties we tossed,
To the games that we lost (We shall claim that we won them someday).
To the girls, young and sweet,
To the spacious back seat Of our roommate's beat up Chevrolet.
To the beer and Benzedrine,
To the way that the dean Tried so hard to be pals with us all.
To excuses we fibbed,
To the papers we cribbed
From the genius who lived down the hall.

To the tables down at Mory's (Wherever that may be),
Let us drink a toast to all we love the best.
We will sleep through all the lectures,
And cheat on the exams,
And we'll pass, and be forgotten with the rest.

Oh, soon we'll be out amid the cold world's strife.
Soon we'll be sliding down the razor blade of life.
(Oooh!) (laughter) ... Ready? ...
But as we go our sordid separate ways,
We shall ne'er forget thee,
thou golden college days.
Hearts full of youth,
Hearts full of truth,
Six parts gin to one part vermouth.

-- Tom Lehrer


This poem reminds me of all the high school/college films I used to watch during Lit and English class. =) Dead Poet's Society! My all-time favourite show... Ah the heady, impulsive days of youth, dreaming, passion and rebellion; of young men trying to find their place under the sun and learning "Carpe Diem" along the way. And then there's the Brit films that Mr Harris used to show us during Lit lectures, can't remember what they're called now. Just remember feeling a great rush of thrill and anticipation about the whole college experience- of bicyling down cobbled streets, hair flying in the wind; of driving down to the countryside during long and lazy afternoons; of engaging in witty and intellectual conversations with peers... And most importantly perhaps, feeling free and eager to explore who you are, the vast world we live in and the God who created it all.

Haha and when I got home, I remember excitedly telling Cheh I wanted to study overseas! Hahaha... Sometimes I wonder if I'm too idealistic.. Anyway, the rest was history, albeit with some hiccups along the way. Well, I thank God for answering my heart's desire! =) He is a good and loving Father and He will continue to lead and guide me, even when I'm far away from home.

Found this passage especially reassuring..
"Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from Your Presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there Your hand will guide me,
Your right hand will hold me fast".

-Psalm 139:7-10


Love you all, Carol