Sunrise at Noon

for President Steven H. Kaplan, September 30, 2005

Reader, writer, scholar

Brother teacher,

Educational leader,

Arise

Your savvy rays

Reach into us

With the certainty of a new day

And the morning dew

Working like a prism turning

Our directions into color

And growth

You refract our lives

Into the full spectrum

Of all we hope to be

You inspire us to build

Learning curves

With determined parabolas

And insightful arcs

You challenge thoughtful cycles

For every shade, tint and hue

Of our hearts and minds

As sixth President we believe

You will bend returning light

Into the learning changes

We need to love

Your smile

Starting in your eyes

Works with lips

And your totality

To welcome wisdom,

Knowing us almost before

A word is spokenä

And then knowing you better

After your word is given

That it will be kept

Those who will come to you

Will grasp your cosmic mind

By the comet tail in your phrases

That echo and roar

As the university progress

You create by shaking a hand

So secure and strong

That we never want to let go

Steven Kaplan

You will be loved

Beyond your tenure

But perhaps

We donπt really need to telescope

This inaugural moment

Beyond New Haven now

To feel the grace of your gravity

Holding us all

Together

c Will Hochman 2005