'I shall not pass ..'

And it came to pass,

Early in the morning toward the last

day of the semester,

There arose a great multitude smiting

the books and wailing.

And there was much weeping and

gnashing of teeth,

For the day of judgment was at hand.

And they were sore afraid, for they

had left undone

Those things which they ought to

have done,

And they had done

Those things which they ought not

to have done

And there was no help for it.

And there were many abiding in the

dorm

Who had kept watch over their books

by night,

But it availed them naught.

But some there were who rose peacefully,

For they had prepared themselves

the way

And made straight paths of knowledge.

And these were known

As wise burners of the midnight oil.

And to others they were known as

"curve raisers."

And the multitude arose

And ate a hearty breakfast.

And they came into the appointed

place

And their hearts were heavy within

them.

And they had come to pass,

But some to pass out.

And some of them

Repented of their riotous living and

bemoaned their fate,

But they had not a prayer.

And at the last hour there came

among them '

One known as the instructor; arid

they feared exceedingly.

He was of the diabolical smile,

And passed papers among them and

went his way.

And many and varied

Were the answers that were given,

For some of his teachings had fallen

among fertile minds.

Others had fallen among the fallows,

While others had fallen flat.

And some there were who wrote for

one hour,

Others for two;

But some turned away sorrowful,

and many of these

Offered up a little bull

In hopes of pacifying the instructor.

And these were the ones who had

not a prayer.

And when they finished,

They gathered up their belongings

And went their way quietly, each in

his own direction,

And each one vowing unto himself

in this manner:

"I shall not pass this way again."

� Author unknown

This poem/essay was printed periodically in the Illini Daily, the student newspaper of the University of Illinois - e.g., http://idnc.library.illinois.edu/cgi-bin/illinois?a=d&d=DIL19660118.2.24#