Thoughts Upon Graduation Poem by Priscilla Hong

Where are you going, loving heart?
Why you in a hasty pace tread?
Didn’t we promise to be sure companions for each other
From past till forever?

Remember the days we braced the storm
Quenched the fire
Shared our inspirations and apprehensions
And promised to stand by each other?

Now we have each found our own place in the sun
Our hard work has crowned us with honors
Our dreams realized, our hopes fulfilled
But it’s time to say good bye

Loving hearts meet and part
For life is as the erratic flight of a butterfly
A hasty passing as the smile of the lily
And as the shy glimpse of the daffodil

Bridge over troubled waters
Do not refrain from staying
For together we shall sing “Viva L’amour” in synchronous voices
In place of “Auld Lang Syne”


(First published: NUS ChemCONNECTions,2003)