These Halls, This Institution Poem by Oyekake Satty (O S) Joshua

We come into the world uncertain
Of who or what we may become

We meet one person here and there
A friend, a teacher, a colleague
And that strange professor who pushes
And seems to wring every ounce off you
Often, to get the very best of you
To move you from your comfort zone
Out of complacency and mediocrity,
To propel you beyond proficiency
Over and above the ranks of mastery
To earn the right to be crowned a guru.

But you resented every thrust or nudge
And labeled him a badger and a nag
Till the uncoiling of the spring within
The igniting of that silent blue flame,
That emotional alertness that rippled
And vaulted you into the new sphere
Where you discovered that rare jewel
The professor saw in the beginning
And you rewarded him with hard work

Your heart throbbing, your spirit prodding
That subtle voice calls and beckons you
To scale onward for greater possibilities
To the realm of wisdom undiscovered

And without grumbling, you do oblige
And now ascended to a place of honor
At that perpetual state of ignorance
Where you see the world in its awe
And with a new eagerness to learn
And a longing to discover the mystery
Of beauty, of love, life and friendship

Then, the epiphany, your journey through
This institution was in God’s providence.
You came through these halls uncelebrated
And now you leave crowned and tempered
Equipped for greater exploits and discoveries
With the desire for endless learning endeavors