Shadows

ROLL-CALL ’71

54 ROLL-CALL ’71 (On the occasion of the class of 1971’s first reunion in New Orleans, USA, in 2008) The years in decades have rolled by And time, weeping, sweating, bleeding, Yielded forth a rich harvest From a bunch of boys that once rallied together In the days of yore, The Class of ’71. From the very first years The Master tilled his vineyard Redirecting along different paths, Others maintained in stride, that Afterwards a rich harvest may emerge: Spouses, fathers, doctors, teachers, entertainers, Accountants, businessmen, and more; The Class of ‘71. We were young and childish, sometimes Ridiculously or else tragically so; our Pranks, still current, will reveal, but On that day, as preps, when we arrived severally, Began a journey that forged a bond between us, Transforming a bunch of clueless fledglings Into a band determined to survive, The Class of ’71. And onward we marched, plodding, Falling and regaining our steps with eyes set On the blazing horizon: at times as individuals 55 At times together, at times smiling and laughing At times weeping and shedding tears of temporary disaster, The Class of ’71. Even as the years came and went With significant transformation in our Lonely abodes and travails—academic and professional Setbacks and successes—spouses, children, and none, Baldness, greyness, sickness and health, We have held on to that bond that made us The Class of ’71. The bullying we answered to as preps, Remarkable senior students, the beautiful campus, Bread and butter with jars of tea for breakfast and That occasional encounter with Kadem, The mumbling and grumbling in the face of authority, Marinus, barbwire, winter, all; Sunday and daily Mass, Benediction and Tantum Ergos, only to Crash on a veritable tête du poisson The Class of ’71. In the journey of life, with the tides and storms We have held hands physically, spiritually, for support, Confident that with St. Joseph ever near, progress Is ours, success ours. And so thirty-seven years after, Here we are at New Orleans, together again For another roll-call. Some have answered present In person, others from afar, yet others remain mute, Their earthly journey at an end; Even so, here we stand on their behalf, banner in hand, of that unique bunch: The Class of ’71. 56 For those present, for those gone, We remain grateful to God and thankful as always, And to St. Joseph our patron: together again We stand and stare at features redecorated by time, By experience, by the journey of life. Yet we see Traces, the foundations, of those young men during The first roll-call thirty-seven years ago, And we celebrate for having been there for each other, In thought at least, for being here today for each other, In person this time and yet in thought for others. The Class of ’71. We are a proud bunch, even as we remember That the fingers of one hand are not the same And so have accepted each other even with our faults, Our weaknesses, our strengths, for we are products of St. Joseph’s College, Sasse, by the Buea Mountain, The Class of 71. And so God be praised forever. ...