A tribute to the class of 1972

From The Corners of Your Mind

A tribute to the Macalester College Class of 1972

Let me paint you a picture—

a misty watercolor—

of a memory to frame

in the corners of your minds.[1]

Whether or not you ended up

going to San Francisco,

here’s a flower for your hair

and for the corners of your minds.[2]

Here is a little green apple

for the summer rains of Indianapolis,

for the winter snows in Minneapolis,

and for the corners of your minds.[3]

Here is a buttercup to build you up

that won’t break your heart

while you wait by the phone

in the corners of your minds.[4]

Here is a suddenly-appearing bird

for the dreams come true

that stay close to you

in the corners of your minds.[5]

Here is some time to trace—

a consultation about world immunity—

to turn and to face the strange change

in the corners of your minds.[6]

Here is the sunshine, the blue skies, the rainbow

that you prayed for. No more dark clouds.

You’re seeing everything more clearly now

in the corners of your minds.[7]

Here is some more learning for the people

some more warning from the soldiers

some more turning from the world

from the corners of your minds.[8]

[1] “The Way We Were” sung by Barbara Streisand (1974)

[2] “Are You Going to San Francisco” sung by Scott McKenzie (1967)

[3] “Little Green Apples” sung by O. C. Smith (1968)

[4] “Build Me Up, Buttercup” sung by The Foundations (1969)

[5] “Close to You” sung by Karen Carpenter (1970

[6] “Changes” sung by David Bowie (1971)

[7] “I Can See Clearly Now” sung by Johnny Nash (1972)

[8] “Higher Ground” sung by Stevie Wonder (1973)

A Response by Linda Kennedy

Well, “Ain’t That Peculiar?” I was thinking we needed a poem to “Get Ready” for a Macalester “Family Reunion.” So “Let’s Get Together (yay, yay, yay), “Leader of the Pack.” I won’t “See you in September” because it will be June when we’ll be “Dancing In the Streets” “In the Midnight Hour.” It will seem “Just A Little” like “Yesterday.” We will greet each other “Tenderly” and say “Hello Stranger.” And when we see those from ’70 and ’71 we’ll say, “Ooh Baby, Baby” “It’s My Party.” It will be a “Celebration,” a “Special Occasion.” “I’ll be Glad All Over.” Won’t you “Second that Emotion?”