Written by Michael Claxton <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I finished high school in 1990, the most popular graduation gift was a brand-new book by Dr. Seuss. Eight years ago, and with apologies to Theodor Geisel, I adapted his idea for our seniors. I\u2019ve updated the poem for today\u2019s grads. May God bless you always.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The day has arrived!
You have waited and waited.
Did you ever suspect
You would be liberated?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now exams are all done,
Not a one of them flunked.
Though your brains may be drained
From the thoughts that you\u2019ve thunked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, your head is all crammed
With stray facts running loose,
Like irregular verbs
And the height of a moose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You made it through COVID,
With vaccines and masks.
\u201cHow on earth did we do it?\u201d
Is what everyone asks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You survived Harding\u2019s birthday \u2014
We\u2019re 100, I hear.
A century of memories
Crammed into one year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s been one for the ages \u2014
Football championships!
Five decades of Spring Sing!
A solar eclipse!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ve witnessed our triumphs
In athletics and arts.
You\u2019ve endured all our efforts
At testing your smarts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But now is the time
To head out from this place.
I\u2019m sure no one saw
The small tear on your face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The succession of \u201clasts\u201d
Has now slowly begun:
Last chapel, last classes,
Last late Wal-Mart run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last Bison, last Frisbee,
Last chicken-filled biscuit.
Last meal in the Caf \u2014
If you\u2019re willing to risk it.
(If you do, I commend
The rotisserie brisket).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All those last-minute errands:
Parking tickets to pay.
Note to self: \u201cTortured Poets\u201d
Hits the market today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is so much to pack \u2014
All those books, souvenirs,
The assorted mementoes
Of four to six years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What to toss? What to save?
How much stuff should you keep?
Dare we hope our class handouts
Will escape the trash heap?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You must take a break!
Off to MO on your bike
For a Caf\u00e9 Vienna
Or one last Mocha Mike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Will you add some whipped cream?
Maybe two or three squirts.
Then back to the packing
Of three hundred t-shirts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the least of your worries
Are heavy suitcases.
Your minds are a-flurry
In a half-dozen places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All those possible futures
In such different typefaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Will you marry or not?
And what job will you get?
Will you live near your family?
Or move to Tibet?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Will you have any children?
Work from home or commute?
Will you count every penny,
Or be swimming in loot?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Loan payments and moving
And grad school and rent.
The farewells and job search.
Must you now reinvent?
You wanted a change,
But is this what you meant?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And now leaving school
Isn\u2019t quite what you\u2019re wishing.
Could you add one more major?
Like Linguistics or Fishing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your advisor says, \u201cNo,
Don\u2019t waste your brain powers.\u201d
After all,\u201d she reminds you,
\u201cYou\u2019re a grown-up by hours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And so, you slip into
Your cap and your gown
And await all the people
Who are coming to town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All your uncles and cousins,
Your Mom and your Pop,
And even your neighbor,
Dear old Mr. Schmop.
Not a one of these folks
Thinks you\u2019re going to flop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s alright to be nervous.
You\u2019re not weird to have jitters.
Yes, your stomach feels like
A motel full of critters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But you have real talents.
You needn\u2019t be scared.
I\u2019ll bet that you\u2019ll find
That you\u2019re fully prepared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And if you mess up,
Just say, \u201cThat\u2019s how it goes.\u201d
Sometimes you fall flat
And get sand in your nose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just dust yourself off.
Grab a Kleenex and sneeze,
And then get some ice
For the bumps on your knees.
Then learn from your failures \u2014
They\u2019re not a disease.
Forgive yourself. Really.
OK? Pretty please?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the world seems chaotic,
Or a little too large.
Don\u2019t forget to remember
That God is in charge!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The world is uncertain.
The future\u2019s obscure.
But one thing I promise.
Of that thing, I\u2019m sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your teachers are cheering
For you as you go.
You\u2019ve brightened our worlds
So much more than you know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When each of you came,
We were all overjoyed.
Without you, professors
Are so unemployed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So go, do us proud!
Show compassion. Be kind.
Love others. Be joyful.
And then you will find
That when challenges come
You won\u2019t so much mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We hope we\u2019ve been able
To strengthen your wings,
But we gladly confess
You\u2019ve taught us a few things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, thank you for choosing
To plant yourself here.
Those roots will continue
To grow and endear,
And we\u2019ll think of you fondly
Year after year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And now I\u2019ll step aside
To give Seuss the last word
(Since primary sources
Are always preferred).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo, be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
Or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O\u2019Shea,
You\u2019re off to great places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So get on your way!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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