STILL LIFE

'Courage: For Dr. Charles Steger'

by Nikki Giovanni

It takes courage
For a son of the old south
To helm his beloved university

There is a Future Shore to reach

It must have been the courage learned
By calling again and again
On a certain young lady
Who finally moved
Much much closer
Then closer still
And now after jobsmortgageschildrenandstuff
As close as a good partner is

That courage to let
Others partner
As they see fit
Without renouncement

It's that courage to say
We have to expand
To make this good university
A great institution

The courage to say
We must diversify:
The past is good
But not good
Enough

There can't always be
A Clarion call
A rousing phrase
A push back on horror
Sometimes it's just that first smile

Suggesting "Can this...poetry thing live"
And the Answer is "Yes"

Understanding Poetry is What
We all do no matter What
We call it

Didn't Miles Davis remind John Coltrane:
Always Play the Blues?

We Love You
Bannered our April 16th spirits around your office
Allowing you to listen
To your heart and stay
Strong for all of us

It is we who cannot issue a clarion call
Today but rather simply sound
The trumpet to declare:
It Was A Great Ride
This Virginia Tech of Steger
A Great Ride