Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Stanford Commencement 2018 Shine A Light With A Purpose


Last year the climate change gods ruled supreme
Commencement at Stanford was oven like, a  perspiration scene
100 plus degrees in full academic garb
Revenge of the release of the fossil fuel carbs?
A California Supreme Court Justice in speaking in hip hop
Words of wisdom lost into the air, sweltering, stifling and hot
This year in 2018 the climate change gods were in full retreat
A gentle breeze to the grads Wacky Walk caress and greet
All manner of creativity of over academic robes to express
A day of hope and beginning of life’s journey could not be repressed
A time to the pomp and circumstance enjoy
A message from the president for grads to a life with purpose employ
Guided by a moral compass to deploy
Then capped off by Sterling K. Brown’s Commencement address for all to enjoy
Encouraging grads to shine lights on themselves and others and to not others vilify
Traits in our divisive political world we wish our leaders would defy
All good things must come to an end and degrees must be confirmed
With a rousing “Hail Stanford hail” the quest for a life with purpose to be affirmed
Led by the president and trustees down the stage out of the stadium’s parting applause and cheers
June 17, Fathers’ Day—a joyous end to another Stanford Academic Year
© June 19, 2018 Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet
Alaskanpoet for Hire, Poems to Admire
Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare
The Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive Lasting Lift

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