• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

POMP, CIRCUMSTANCE, AND OTHER SONGS OF A LIFETIME POMP, CIRCUMSTANCE, (continued from inside front cover) AND OTHER SONGS OF A LIFETIME —by Professor David Citino, 1947–2005, Late University Poet Laureate I say, rather, the richness of us, were it not for the lullabyes and songs (Originally presented as the 2000 Winter Commencement address) of dear parents, their parents, theirs. of selves that balance this globe Some are here today in the flesh. and enable it to spin true. Grandson Many are not. We mourn them with cadences of peasant immigrants, I was given of our hearts. Think how many people If you’re like me, you’ve got a big head, the opportunity to earn a doctorate sang before us, gave us a name, a voice, not to mention a funny robe, full of music— to do your best. Tennessee Ernie Ford, in English literature from Ohio State— taught us the right words. We must poems and melodies, the tunes “Sixteen Tons”: St. Peter don’t you because my family labored long nights cherish them by remembering every song. we move to, shower and shave by, call me ‘Cause I can’t go. I owe around the kitchen table trying to learn When we sing to others, we honor study, write to. Not just the incidental, my soul to the company store. this arduous English. I sat where our fathers and mothers, thank them but the momentous music keeping time. You have been digging deep in mines you’re sitting twenty-six years ago. for this day of profound scarlet and gray Our histories are measures of song. of knowledge. We all owe our souls Bob Dylan and Smokey Robinson got me pomp and circumstance. O, come Listen to your heart: drums of Africa, to Ohio State, company store of learning, through. Yes, it took a prophet and Miracles! let’s sing Ohio’s praise, And songs sea-spume of blind, far-sighted Homer, shared experience—precious ore My son earned an OSU Ph.D. in history. to Alma Mater raise. Alma mater. Sappho’s honeyed love lyrics. Often, we have in common forever. Now you, graduates, are being honored— Ohio State is our sweet, nurturing mother. music speaks for us, one note saying Now I hear Domenico Modugno’s by degrees. We’ve all come together We came of age here, with her help. a thousand words. Like Rodolpho fervent urging to wish, sing, fly, arou nd the kitchen table of Ohio State. Well, Mother, we love you, but, like, in Puccini’s La Boheme, Sono un poeta. Volare, Wo-oo. Cantare, Wo-o-o-o. Ohio, Round on the ends and high it’s time we moved out, got a place I am a poet. Che cosa faccio? What My grandfather was a peasant farmer, in the middle. For the years to come of our own. You’re standing there, do I do? Scrivo. I write. This ceremony a contadino in Calabria in the toe we’ll sing together, Beautiful Ohio, Mom, gray hair, eyes scarlet is loud music—pomp and circumstance of Italy. He knew it’s the human lot in dreams again I see, Visions of what from crying. We won’t forget you. of the life you began freshman year to dream of flying. Lucky, lucky, used to be. These psalms, sacred thoughts Now, even though this ceremony or that first day of graduate school. lucky me, I’m a lucky son-of-a-gun. of our tribes, 78’s and 33’s, tapes, In my head I press Play, and the CD I work eight hours, I sleep eight hours, CD’s—they take up space in shelves the nipple, let’s take care to cherish her of Big Days kicks on. I leap and linger That leaves eight hours for fun. of our skulls, our hearts. They remind us all our days. Let’s remember over moments too sweet, nearly, for words. Hey! He sailed in steerage across we want a song beyond the run- the words to the songs she taught us, I’ll never escape rhymes from the nursery. the Atlantic, came to Cleveland, where of-the-mill thrill, the moment throbbing and pass them on. We’ll remember Up above the world so high, like a diamond he stayed long enough to work 52 years with pleasure or bathed in the blues. always, Graduation Day. Summer’s heat, in the sky. We knew from the start for the B&O Railroad, before lying down We ache for something grander than and winter’s cold, The seasons pass, our universe was aglow with wonder. to rest in good Ohio soil. So many of us pure selfishness. Songs sung for one the years will roll, Time and change Italian, Latin, English songs in nasal accents here today came from elsewhere, alone are not true music. Arias shared will surely show How firm thy friendship, of Cleveland. Gaudeamus igitur, Juvenes or ancestors did. From Tennessee, Italy, are music of the spheres, ways of saying O-hi-O. We call that little number dum sumus. So, let us rejoice, while Africa, Asia, Appalachia—even, to another something from the soul. Carmen Ohio. Carmen means song we are young. Youth is that gift we can’t President Kirwan, the wilds of Kentucky Of course the Buckeye Battle Cry in Latin. You’ve worked hard; she comprehend while we’re young. This ceremony and Maryland. Women and men with backs is there. Drive, drive on down the field, is your reward; today is your reward. means you all are less young than you were. supple as birch trunks. The courage Men (and women!) of the Scarlet You’re filled to overflowing with Don’t let the heavy knowledge gained it took to pick up stakes and begin again and Gray. Well, you drove on down the notes, the poems we’ve written from your studies deprive you of the gifts in a new world! Think of the work the field, and you drove up and down together. You know the score. of youth, to be able to rejoice at the drop those older ones did. For you. You all the streets, around and around Continue to work hard for yourselves, of a hat, to care for, be moved by others. are facing a change right now. crowded lots, looking for a place to park, and one another. Find the ones who need Now I hear golden hits of five decades. This sheepskin is your passport. and you searched our dark, ancient library you to sing to, for them, in the world. Big Mama Thornton, and that so-called King You’re bound for emigration to for a decent place to study. My wife, Graduates, this joyful litany, this hymn (King o f what, fried butter sandwiches?) the next song of your life. Ohio State Mary’s, father marched in the first our ancestors collaborated on with us, who stole away her hound dog. You ain’t is the ark on which you’ve been sailing. “Script Ohio,” in 1936. He’s here today the calling of your name today is music never killed a rabbit, you ain’t no friend You’ve been the precious cargo. with us, blowing his horn, I can’t help to our ears. Sing that name proudly of mine. As with those profs and TAs, But, as Noah once said, I can see but feel, as is the sweet mother all your days, as if your life depended course after course, you had to produce— clearly now the rain is gone. The ark, I lost last year, the one who gave me on it. It does, you know. It has been kill some rabbits—to earn respect. our university, was filled to overflowing the stars. Today’s music makes us think an honor for me to speak—and sing— And at times OSU may have seemed with the diversity of us. Diversity. of the debts we owe, and never can repay. to you today. Thank you, graduates, like Heartbreak Hotel, down at the end Networks and talk shows devalue the word. So many of us would not be here and, again, Congratulations. (continued on inside back cover) © 2018 The Ohio State University OPRES-CSE-0240522 THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY 418TH COMMENCEMENT SPRING 2018 • MAY 6, 2018 • 12 P.M. • OHIO STADIUM Presiding Officer Commencement Address Conferring of Degrees in Course Michael V. Drake Susan Desmond-Hellmann Colleges presented by President Chief Executive Officer Bruce A. McPheron Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Executive Vice President and Provost Prelude—11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Student Speakers Welcome to New Alumni The Ohio State University Elizabeth H. Beattey James E. Smith Wind Symphony Class of 2018 Senior Vice President of Alumni Relations Russel C. Mikkelson, Conductor President and CEO Shweta Ambwani The Ohio State University Alumni Class of 2018 Association Welcome Javaune Adams-Gaston Conferring of Senior Vice President for Student Life Alma Mater—Carmen Ohio Honorary Degree Graduates and guests led by Recipient presented by Processional Justin T. Fields Michael J. Gasser, Chair Board of Trustees Oh! Come let’s sing Ohio’s praise, National Anthem And songs to Alma Mater raise; Graduates and guests led by Susan Desmond-Hellmann While our hearts rebounding thrill, Justin T. Fields Doctor of Science Class of 2018 With joy which death alone can still. Conferring of Distinguished Summer’s heat or winter’s cold, Invocation Service Awards The seasons pass, the years will roll; Hancella W. Newberry Recipients presented by Time and change will surely show Director Michael J.

Load more

  113

Copy Link