in place so far away
I sat ensconced
in a classroom large
and soaked up many thoughts
The professor grande
marked with chalk
almost made it smoke
as ideas unfolded
from his mind
and numbers flew like jets
He had these sayings
meant for life
so we took them down in ink
“Read the problem”
he’d tell us twice
or maybe ‘twas a thousand
“Do it the easy way!”
He’d say with a smile
knowing the miles it would save
One thought stood out
that I captured then
and thought since a million times:
“Systematic and Rational”
the fall back pattern
to look for in any problem.
“What’s that mean?”
the students pondered
including me, myself, and I.
All we got from him, I think,
was that ever puzzling smile.
and I asked him the other day.
“What’s that mean?”
“I dunno!” He answered.
There you have it!
My lifetime spent
pondering something imponderable!
So now I say it,
as a learned man
but when queried as to meaning
I simply smile
and leave the person
to ponder as I’ve done.
A million things surround us
above our best honed minds
we can learn a lot
but still far short
and ever will it be
You see,
I’ve come to know
that this is earth, not heaven
and I’m earth bound
for a little while
left with many questions
Smile….
Lin 08/08
Reflections on Professor Kenneth W. Perry
From a student’s seat