sroth@muddcs.UUCP (Steve Roth) (12/04/85)
Somewhere near the end of last semester, the following poem was posted
to net.college. I have reposted it since it's time has come again.
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"I Shall Not Pass"
And it came to pass,
Early in the morning toward the last day of the semester,
There arose a great multitude smiting the books and wailing.
And there much weeping and gnashing of teeth.
For the day of judgement was at hand.
And they were sore afraid, for they had left undone,
Those things which they ought to have done,
And there was no help for it.
And there were many abiding in the dorm,
Who had kept watch over their books by night,
But it availed them naught.
But some there were who rose peacefully,
For they had prepared themselves the way,
And made straight paths for knowledge.
And these were known
As wise burners of the midnight oil.
And to others they were known as "curve raisers".
And the multiple arose,
And ate a hearty breakfast.
And they came unto the appointed place.
And their hearts were heavy within them.
And they had come to pass,
But some to pass out.
And some of them,
Repented of rioutous living and bemoaned their fate,
But they had not a prayer,
And at the last hours there came among them,
One known as the instructor, and they feared exceedingly.
He was of the diabolical smile,
And passed papers among them and went his way.
And many and varied
Were the answers that were given,
For some of his teachings had fallen among fertile minds.
Others had fallen among the fallows,
While others had fallen flat.
And some there were who wrote for an hour,
Others for two,
But some turned away sorrowful, and many of these
Offered up a little bull
In hopes of pacifying the instructor.
And these were the ones who had not a prayer.
And when they finished,
They gathered up their belongings
And went their way quietly, each in his own direction.
And each one vowing unto himself in this manner:
"I shall not pass this way again."
-Author Unknown
Happy Examing folks.
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Steve Roth Harvey Mudd College, Claremont California
ucbvax!trwrb!scgvaxd!muddcs!sroth -or- STEVE@YMIR.BITNET