Cheecheechee

I am 24 standing
At the oak door of the
Chairman of the History
Department, the very serious
Chairman Standish Meachum
Who brooks no levity or lack of
Decorum and who is about to
Assign me a teaching job as
A graduate student and a
Doctoral candidate but
The solemnity is lost
Because the junior
Secretary has a
Pet squirrel in
A big box by
Her desk
Which
Escapes
Running into
The Chairman’s
Office jumping
Onto the book
Case then
Around
The
Room
From one
Bookcase to
Another chittering
Cheecheechee
As the junior
Secretary
Tries to
Corral
The critter
The Chairman
Glowers at her and
I am unable to subdue
My laughter at the Chairman’s
Expression of annoyance and
The Secretary’s panic and
The squirrel’s wild run for
Independence which I
Think is overvalued
By those who feel
Controlled by
Events
And
Desperate
To feel they
Are in control
When no one is,
How arrogant to be
Unaware of our humanity
And the humility that
Must come to all
With that self
Realization.
We all
Depend
On tender
Mercies of
Unseen angels,
Even those who
Chitter
Chee
Chee
Chee.