Read a Book! Write a Rhyme!

School is almost over now
And folks are getting stressed
Staying up till 4am
To cram for all their tests.

I, myself, am not immune
From all this finals sorrow.
I’ve got twenty pages worth
Of writing due tomorrow!

Once we get through May, though,
We can finally take a breath
And do whatever people do
When they’re not worked to death.

Still, before we finish up
And bid the year adieu,
I’ve got one last humble little
Rhyming thought for you.

We’ve talked about diversity
And legacy admissions,
‘Bout toxic masculinity,
And fake poor dispositions.

And sure, there’s still a lot of
Heavy topics to discuss,
And doing it in rhyme, of course,
Is always quite the plus.

But honestly, there’s something else
I think about a lot —
A widespread, sad phenomena
That isn’t hard to spot.

So, for my final article,
I wrote you all a letter.
Inside it, there’s an offering
That I think makes life better.

Dear people who have read this far:
First of all, you rule!
I have a small request for you
Once you get out of school.

We’re all so crazy busy
And we’re always on the run.
Very few of us have time
To sit and read for fun.

But sometime in the coming months
Seek out a quiet nook.
Put aside your iPhone
And instead, pick up a book.

Not something that you have to read,
Not something that’s assigned.
Pick something that is silly
And will entertain your mind.

Do you still like Percy Jackson?
If so, that’s a relief!
Instead of watching Love is Blind,
Re-read “The Lightning Thief.”

Or if you are a romance fan,
Try “Fifty Shades of Grey.”
And if you like a wedding,
“As You Like It” is your play.

Into creepy horror?
Edgar Allan Poe’s your guy.
He writes ‘bout death and murder
And a lot of people die!

But maybe you’re one of those folks
Who, when they get to choose,
Will always turn on CNN
Or other nightly news.

If so, you should read Immerwahr!
His newest book is great.
Or else try out a memoir:
Mindy Kaling’s are first rate.

But maybe you’re like,
“Ughhh! I already think in school.
I’m gonna just recharge my brain
With Netflix, if that’s cool.”

Yo man, yeah, I get it.
After finals, my brain’s shot.
So here’s some brainless,
“Just for fun” book recs that I have got.

“Redshirts” by John Scalzi,
“Fun Home” by Bechdel,
“Born a Crime” or “Dracula,”
Or Olen Butler’s “Hell”

Graphic novels also rule!
Try out “The Hard Tomorrow”
“New Kid,” “Maus,” “Persepolis”:
All great ones you should borrow.

Mostly, guys, my point here
Is that life is really tough.
Everything takes so much time
And there’s never enough.

So once you finally get a break
Sit down and try to read.
Books can offer the respite
From work that we all need.

They often increase vocab
And help workout our brain.
Attention spans can increase.
We all have so much to gain!

So yeah, I’ll leave it there for now.
This column has been fun!
Here’s what you should take away
Before I’m truly done.

Rhymes are often thought to be
What only kids enjoy,
But sometimes simple, silly stuff
Can bring the greatest joy!

They’re beautiful. They’re artful.
They add a touch of glee!
And man, the news is glum enough —
Now, wouldn’t you agree?

Rhymes can help us understand.
They’re music to our ears.
And making words accessible
Is something I hold dear.

And so it is my hope for us
That maybe over time,
We’ll learn to find the joy in life.
We’ll learn to find the rhyme.

Mireya Sánchez-Maes ’24 is a joint concentrator in English and Theater, Dance, and Media in Currier House. Her column “Rhyme and Reason” appears on alternate Mondays.