The Siege - A First Memory Of Robert C. Leslie Poem by Bill Grace

His book's title on the subject sounded right
The letter written in the East
To the professor living in the West
'Permission of instructor required'
Even the siege of his office had failed
The good professor was popular
The class was full
There was a long waiting list
It was not the first time I had been licked.

So graciously withdrawing from my siege
Signed up for something a little less
That still kept me in the great man's light
Second day of class a little shoulder tap
'... I want you to be in my class...'
Thus began true tutelage of the professor
Who would claim me more than any other.

Now I am old and he is gone
Yet I, still strangely driven to make song
This strange thing that brought me to him
There is something to our fate,
The world I fear may mock,
But I believe and trust and will not debate.