A Christmas Blessing

THE TORCHLIT SPRING is fading fast

Into the twilight of the past

The New Year bids us put away

The Old Year's cares and come what may.

And so Old Wenceslaus, the Crimson sage

Once again takes pen to page

And brings to you his Christmas rhymes

With gifts appropriate to the times.

Read this verse of sparkling wit

But take no mean offense from it.

It is but a poem mere

To usher in the Holiday's Cheer

AND SO TO OUR LEADER, kind President Bok,

We'd give stockings filled with the cleanest bank stock.

Bonds that would give him a pleasant night's rest--

Nothing he'd ever have to divest.

For Doctor Rosovsky, the Faculty's mentor:

Peaceful Core meetings with not one dissentor.

Students who view everything in proportion,

No Crimeds guilty of "systematic distortion."

A gift for Graham Allison, to make his soul merry:

A brand-new name for his shiny library.

For Coach Joseph Restic, halfbacks with strong legs;

For John Fox, a plateful of hot scrambled eggs.

For Dean Archie Epps--though it may seem odd--

A blizzard, the end of the world, or some such act of God.

Let's toast the freshmen's prophet, Henry Moses,

And give David Chan a hundred cheesecake poses.

Salud to Masters Andrews, Bossert, Herlihy,

Heimert, Hutchison, and Vogt, Evon Z.;

On Wacker, on Kiely, on Hastings and Bott;

Now dash away, Rosenkrantz, Dunn and Whitlock.

Light the Yule log and praise Krister Stendahl,

Al Sacks, Dan Tosteson; but don't offend all

The other big honchos, like Paul Ylvisaker,

Kilbridge, Keenan, Goldhaber, Fouraker;

But the best has been saved for our friend Howard Hiatt--

A brand-new image, and colleagues who'll buy it.

SO STRIKE UP a tune, forget all the hassle,

Drink deep with your friends, please take some more wassail;

It's time to make merry, no place for the mourner,

Rise up and rejoice, like President Horner--

Who, although Seventh Sister keeps singing a dirge,

Is said to be happy, now that all's merged.

'Tis the season of giving, so bring a memento

Like early papers--maybe--to Patrick Sorrento.

Good Cheer to Jack Reardon, athletic director,

And Cardinal Benelli, the papal elector.

Though we're short of cash, we just might finagle

A valuable present for Michael Shinagel

(Whose wish--just to think of it makes us all glummer--Is to have no Crimson around in the summer).

Health to Joe Bernal, the friend of the swimmer;

Better luck next year for Steely Don Zimmer--

Who'd rather not have to face Nettles and Rivers.

(A tip of the hat to long-gone Robert Trivers).

Some nice early copy for brave Lewis Brooks,

And for Francis Burr, some grappling hooks.

A new calculator for Mrs. Senese,

The best of the season to Higonnet, Patrice.

Some more stationery for letter-writer Kilson,

A toast to Jim and E.O., the famed brothers Wilson.

Good luck to Bud Bailyn, as he works on the Core;

Some serious monkey-business for Irven de Vore.

Stage presents for Brustein, who'll master the Loeb;

(God grant, to his students, the patience of Job).

Some far-flung greetings to shutterbug Carlson,

Then fling them yet further, to Seidman and Swanson.

Finally, although it sounds very tricky,

Take our best to Hong Kong, for Seligman, Nikki.

CHRISTMAS CHEER to Ed Reischauer, the sage of Japan

Raise a glass to Pete Stanley, the Philippines man

(A better gift yet for this prof debonair,

Would be well-deserved tenure--now that would be fair).

To Stanley Cavell, a straightforward answer,

To William Haseltine, a new cure for cancer

To Rock man Steve Gould, a sample of granite

And for Astro 8's Chaisson his very own planet.

Give regards from Odysseus to Albert B. Lord

And hope Ec 10 students don't get too bored

While doing their problem sets over vacation

And charting the curves of rampant inflation.

Good health and more Pulitzers to Walter J. Bate

To David Mitten, a Greek vase in a crate

To the Harvard Lampoon, an issue that's funny

To the Athletic Department, a bargeload of money

A box of Havanas for Dapper Dan Steiner;

For guilt-ridden Coles, the life of a miner.

Better luck next time for "Pope" Peter Gomes.

Good luck to Chase Peterson in his brand new home

For Maybury Lewis, a culture that's tribal

For Columnist Higgins, a lesson in libel

For Cardinal Wojtyla, the Fisherman's shoes

For Mrs. Deane Lord, a Gazette with some news.

DRINK DEEP from the egg nog and make your life cheery,

Though you end up at Gas Stations with eyes that are bleary--

John Stilgoe won't mind, he's a merry old fellow,

He's been taking Bill Rothman's courses in "Mellow."

To sweet David Donald, a bowl full of grits

To Big Jim Ed Rice, 200-plus hits

To Big Chief Saul Chafin, a brand new Impala,

To Franklin Friedel, a blind date with Fala

To Master Al Heimert, a new book on whales,

For Archibald Cox, Blind Justice's scales.

Raise a toast to Von Doering, Chem 20's professor,

To Doc Warren Wacker, a new tongue depressor

For Frank J. Weissbecker, unlimited power;

To old Sherman Holcombe, some new cauliflower

(Without salmonella, we've all had just plenty

Of trips to the can, I counted 20).

A quote in The Crimson to friend Billy Cleary

Hope all those "home" games don't make you weary.

Christmas regards to labor czar Powers--

Here's hoping next year he won't work such long hours.

And to all Harvard's workers, We send Holiday Cheer

We wish you the best in the coming New Year.

AND TO ALL those we've missed, please don't feel slighted

This is only the work of a poet benighted;

May your holidays ring with mirth and good cheer

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Year.