Daniel Berrigan, Sj - Remembered Poem by Bill Grace

Passing your door at Cornell
it said "come in
and let me make your acquaintance, "
but I was in a hurry
and did not stop,
Mommy and Daddy
being far more important
to appease.

Meeting you in Berkeley
you were cold
and I was shallow liberal,
neither of us were impressed,
the door remained closed.

As one who tries at poetry
I can only salute you
knowing that as big a name
as Marianne Moore
spotted your great talent -
gave your fame a push.

If the spirit
of Berkeley's encounter
was correctly sensed -
is correctly remembered -
you did not give a damn
because of being held
by something much greater
than your own ego
and a student's need
to listen and admire.