REVISING OF NOTES

Vixi puellis nuper idoneus

Et militavi non sine gloria

… Horace

Today, we have revising of notes.  Yesterday,

We had attending of lectures.  And tomorrow,

We shall have what to do after failing.  But today,

Today we have revising of notes.  Veronica’s

Thighs glisten like marble in the neighbouring garden,

And today we have revising of notes.

This is the Careers Officer.  And this

Is the Careers Office, whose use you will see,

When you are given your careers.  And this is the Degree Certificate,

Which in your case you have not got.  The girl

In the garden requires a full evening’s attention,

Which in our case we have not got.

In case you don’t make the grade, there is always postgraduate study.

This is easily  entered, providing there are places.  But please, don’t let me

See every one expecting to get a place, because you can get good marks quite easily

If you have any strength of will-power.  The girl

In the garden has got up and is adjusting her brassiere, but you needn’t let it put you off

If you have any strength of will-power.

And this, you can see is the important thing.  It is perfectly easy

If you have any strength of will-power, to pass the tests

And look forward to a successful future, by memorising the facts and figures, and the small bikini

Of the girl in the garden.  And rapidly backwards and forwards in your head

You weigh your future and your immediate desires, to decide which course of action requires priority:

They call it passing the test.

They call it passing the test.  It is perfectly easy

If you have any strength of will-power, to memorise the names,

And the formulae, and the facts.  All it requires is a head like sponge,

Which in our case we have not got; and the girl in the garden,

Losing interest, has got up and gone into the house, while your thoughts fly rapidly backwards and forwards –

They call it passing the test.

                        With apologies to Henry Reed