Two Poems: Class Day Poem; The Purple Hills

A modest yet resonant pair of poems, written by a young scholar while still a student, were later set down as a heartfelt memorial by his classmates. The verses capture the bittersweet moment of a class’s reunion, echoing the quiet pride of a shared past and the solemn hope that accompanies a rite of passage. Their language balances the formality of a ceremonial address with the warm intimacy of a mentor’s farewell, inviting listeners into a moment frozen in early summer.

The first poem unfolds as a gentle admonition, urging graduates to honor hard work, humility, and compassion as they step beyond the campus walls. The second shifts to a vivid tableau of purple hills, where an elder voice offers timeless counsel about facing the world’s challenges, returning home, and holding fast to simple, enduring truths. Together, the pieces blend lyrical rhythm with earnest guidance, making the collection a reflective listening experience for anyone contemplating the transition from study to life’s broader stage.