THOUGHTS ON THE EVE OF MY 50TH HIGH SCHOOL
REUNION
By Betsy Villas WhiteSO SHOULD I START WHERE ONCE DIANA STOPPED
IN WRITING OUR COMMENCEMENT POEM SO DEEP?
OR SHOULD I SKIP THE PAGES WE HAVE TURNED
AND JUMP RIGHT TO THE DAY WHEN WE WILL MEET?
I DON'T EXPECT TO FIND THE FACES I ONCE KNEW
I KNOW THEY WILL HAVE CHANGED AS MUCH AS MINE
BUT UNDERNEATH I HOPE TO FIND THE SPARK
OF FRIENDS AND TIMES FOR WHICH I OFTEN PINE
IS LAUGHTER STILL ALIVE BEHIND YOUR EYES?
WILL I NOTE THE AGILE BRIGHTNESS OF YOUR MIND?
HAVE YOU GROWN IN LIFE AS ONCE YOU WISHED
OR DID YOUR DREAMS BECOME A DIFFERENT KIND?
I WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU HAVE WEATHERED STORMS
I YEARN TO ASK HOW YOU HAVE COPED WITH DEATH
I WANT TO HEAR WHAT WISDOM YOU HAVE LEARNED
AND WHAT BRINGS JOY AND MEANING TO EACH BREATH
AND YES, I KNOW, THESE WISHES ARE UNSPOKEN
WITH EXPECTATIONS FAR BEYOND THE NORM
BUT ANYTHING I GAIN FROM MUSING THUSLY
COULD POSSIBLY EMERGE IN VERBAL FORM
THE MORAL OF THESE WORDS IT SEEMS TO ME
IS WHEN YOU SEE ME COMING TOWARDS YOU WITH A SMILE
BE SURE YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY YOUR BUDDIES
AND DON'T ASK ME TO STAY AND CHAT AWHILE
©Copyright 2004
and..........
The Commencing (From 1954 by Class Poet Diana Kay Carpenter)
Each one has bold sharp edges on the baseThat he has set to build his living on.
And in defiance of conformity,
He claims each jutting angle as his own.
He wishes not to differ with his kind,
But eldersâ€Âï�½ set traditions chafe his wings;
He wants to be a part of life that soarsâ€Âï�½
Of life that dreams, and does, and life that sings.
The outline of that base pray God to soften,
By some part added here, subtracted there,
So that the whole be separate and distinct,
Yetâ€Âï�½part of all thatâ€Âï�½s best and all thatâ€Âï�½s fair.
Pray each man be not worn to dreary sameness,
With every other being placed on earth;
But let his nature, different from all,
Work well with all, that each best proves his worth.
Diana Kay Carpenter
©Copyright 1954, 2004
