Relysses Poem by Percy Dovetonsils

It little profits that you aging grads
Who once were studs but now are dads
Should sit at home all summer
When the place where you were lads
Beckons.

You cannot rest from travel.
Set out for Amherst, that enchanted land,
Before your arteries unravel.
Drink life to the lees
Making sure, swollen prostate,
There’s a nearby place to pee.

Much have you seen and known.
But now’s the time
To get off your throne
And lap up beers
With your peers.

You are a part
Of all your ‘mates
Living and dead.
How dull it is
To rust sober
On your bed
When you can set sail
For Western Mass
And renew old friendships
Instead.

There lies the jet
The turbines start their wail
Climb abroad and dropp an Ambien
For your body now is frail.
Death closes all:
But not before
AC ‘70’s
Near to last call.

Though many prescriptions are taken
Many remain to be taken.
And though we are not that now
Which moved heaven and Earth
We are mightier than ever
In girth.
That which we are
Can still belly up to the bar.
One equal temper of heroic thirst,
Still vying to get to the kegger first.
Made weak by wives and work,
But strong in will,
To strive, to seek, to find,
And drink our fill.



(on the occasion of Amherst Class of 1970's 40th Reunion)