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Between Wisconsin and New York,
Between a safe place with cheese and a big apple with guns,
Between the realization that you could become a college prof.
Or the head of a cultural institute overseas,
Between walking among egg heads of all colors and moving around
Some of the brightest but also some of the pushiest professionals on earth,
Dear Katie,
A jewel of a mensch who moved easily from a lawyer’s office to
My winter residence, high up among the trees on Merwood Drive,
A writer who can discuss any genre of literature, probe texts and
subtexts, but also reach out to students who struggle with words:
An intern who became an assistant who became a reliable friend,
Who learned German and studied the underbelly of Parisian oysters.
Dear Katie,
You are about to make one of the biggest decisions in your life,
Choose well and know that whichever academic box you pick: it will
Contain more surprises than even Haverford taught you during your salad days.
Go in peace. You will do well, whether you go for Derrida with cheese or
Communications with a capital S in the capital of energy by the Hudson.
And feel free to visit this old house whenever you wish.
Mit einem lachenden und einem weinenden Auge--
With a laughing and a crying eye--
happy you are being courted by two top schools
but also sad that you are leaving a wonderful team:
Ich werde Dich vermissen—I shall miss you.
Henrik
Between a safe place with cheese and a big apple with guns,
Between the realization that you could become a college prof.
Or the head of a cultural institute overseas,
Between walking among egg heads of all colors and moving around
Some of the brightest but also some of the pushiest professionals on earth,
Dear Katie,
A jewel of a mensch who moved easily from a lawyer’s office to
My winter residence, high up among the trees on Merwood Drive,
A writer who can discuss any genre of literature, probe texts and
subtexts, but also reach out to students who struggle with words:
An intern who became an assistant who became a reliable friend,
Who learned German and studied the underbelly of Parisian oysters.
Dear Katie,
You are about to make one of the biggest decisions in your life,
Choose well and know that whichever academic box you pick: it will
Contain more surprises than even Haverford taught you during your salad days.
Go in peace. You will do well, whether you go for Derrida with cheese or
Communications with a capital S in the capital of energy by the Hudson.
And feel free to visit this old house whenever you wish.
Mit einem lachenden und einem weinenden Auge--
With a laughing and a crying eye--
happy you are being courted by two top schools
but also sad that you are leaving a wonderful team:
Ich werde Dich vermissen—I shall miss you.
Henrik
This poem is copyrighted. If you are interested in publishing or adapting it, please contact the author.
