1918 Cedrus Yearbook

19 OUR SITUATION Once upon an evening dreary, I was wrestling, weak and weary, With some Cedremetric problems I had never seen before; Problems that all toil resisted, Though I gropingly insisted, With all my mental powers enlisted, As I never had of yore; But the problems all unraveled, Lay there calmly as before— Only this and nothing more! Quite distinctly I remember, It was in the bleak December, When I was a humble member Of the Cedrus staff of yore; Eagerly I wished the morrow When I hoped that I might borrow Explanations from a staff-mate Who had helped me out before; Who had loaned me his assistance, When in swampy paths before; "Yes," I whispered, "just once more." 18 Long I sat there, madly yearning, All my soul within me burning, Longing, thinking things no students Ever dared to think before; "Oh, begone all situation How I wished my education, And the hours of presentation Were a memory of yore! How I longed to look back thinking They will bother me no more— Free from care forevermore." But the months in their rotation Finished Cedrus publication, And the longed-for presentation Is a thing to come no more, But I find I now am vexing O'er situations as perplexing As the ones, I on that evening Fought of Cedremetric lore; Just as stubborn and inflexing As of Cedremetric lore, Trouble me forevermore! When our tasks are thus repleted And the situation well completed When we are no longer gathered In the staff-room as before, Now our Cedrus is before us And we wait for approbation, For 'tis not till life is over; And our spirit from its burdens, And its tasks as days of yore, Shall be lifted evermore! (With apologies to Poe. L. 0. S.) 91