O Captain! My Captain!

"O Captain! My Captain!"

After Walt Whitman

Ode to Captain Jack’s staccato laugh,

floodplain smile filled to bursting,

her cat’s cradle spirit stretching

to meet our every need. Ode to

Summer Honors, second home,

shortest, crushing season of joy

and self-acceptance. Ode to our

break-barriers-mentor who scoffs

at locks—impossible hold up—and

swings every key like a swashbuckler

wandering at sea.

Her arrival was always anticipated,

Chatter of wonder filled the room,

Wonders of what we would create.

That day we tested how much weight

Our homemade bridges could hold,

While we tried to make the most of our time.

She taught us to unleash creativity

And displayed her selfless and helpful nature,

Always encouraging us along the way.

With your imaginative brain

Flooded with an unending ocean of names

Your contagious laugh that fills empty hearts

Molding young minds make pieces of art

Saying bye to you makes us uneasy

But with all that said

We hope your next sea adventure doesn’t make you too queasy

Oh Captain my captain

Sailor of the 13 seas

Through many a storm and dreary weather

You’ve led us by a gentle breeze

You're the stars in the sky that lead our ship home

Pointing us in the right direction,

Our north star

Leading us on the path of glory,

Helping us sharpen our brain

Giving us hope,

When we don’t see it

The greatest captain,

Of all time

Keeping the crew in check,

And keeping it fun for everyone

Thank you,

Captain Jack

Her crew is always loyal

snapping up to a salute as she enters

And show her the respect that she so demands

We love Mrs. Jack a bunch,

Man, I could really go for a bowl of Cap’n Crunch

My name is Lizabeth to you

I guess losing an “E” will have to do…

But that loss won’t mean as much to me

As seeing you unhappy.

Oh how we’ll miss you, Captain Jack,

Now we’ll have to remember by looking back.

10.

No matter the struggle,

No matter the situation,

She always brought smiles and cheers to our faces.

11.

The face of SHP

The mother to us all

Always in charge of the fun

In summer or school

You treat us like humans

Kind to all kinds

No matter our differences

We all know that you love us

And treat us like your own

You keep us safe

Never forgetting to call

And I always answer apologizing about not signing out

because I know you’re worried about me

Because to you I am yours

12.

You ignite the warm

Glow of acceptance

In our world-weary hearts.

We puff out our chests,

We straighten our spines,

Heads lift as you walk by.

Your kind eyes catch ours,

Your words kiss our ears.

Noticed. Seen.

13.

Captain Jack is the spirit of summer honors.

She is our support,

our differentiation,

our welcoming environment.

She is the unexpected bonds

formed during nine square in the air,

and the traditions

that continue to share their stories;

She is the green jacket, the hat, Tiny Tim, and Maude.

She is the best two weeks

of every single summer.

14.

Just as waving spears called flowers stand

High in the tall grass of Holdrege,

And unlike my forgetting to take

Pictures of Willa Cather’s childhood

Home, there is a cartographer in this sea

Of administrators, students, and instructors––

What I guess I’m saying only begins

In a small corner of Nebraska––maps

On to what will stay and what we will take

With us wherever we might one day set foot.

––For Janelle Jack who gave us something, even if we didn’t realize it.

Contributors in the order in which they appear:

Gina Tranisi

Jerzie Vap

Maxine Fickenscher

Lilly Sayer

Harper Fennel

Allison Boettcher

Isaac Haack

Matthew Garringer

Elizabeth Meyers

Landon Boettcher

McCartney Elliott

Jacey Kent

Delaney Ham

Tyler Jacobs