Poem January 21, 1985 Issue

The eternal student

VIRGINIA THESIGER

A satire

I have retired now;
but I keep very busy.
I am taking a course in botany,
and I'm studying baroque art,
and twice a week I have German lessons,
and once a week I have painting lessons,
and I'm taking up cookery classes again,
and I'm reading the whole of Dickens!
I also spend quite a while each day
learning to play the guitar.
So you see, I am very busy,
expanding, ever expanding
my field of knowledge.

... And oh yes ... there's God!
Of course, of course there's God!

To God, who is the source of all being—
Life, the fountain of life,
Truth, the wellspring of truth,
in the knowledge of whom
lies the power to heal and bless;
in the understanding of whom
lies all goodness and glory and peace,
all intelligence, wisdom, and skill;
who is, in fact, all
that is important, vital, essential
to a grasp of the universe—
to God, dear God ... I allot one little hour
each morning.

Except, of course, in a crisis.

VIRGINIA THESIGER

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