Written by ‘Twas the day before winter break, when all through the college
Not a test was assigned, not even for knowledge;
The assessments were edited by students with care,
In hopes that the break would soon be there;
The housemasters were nestled up top in their studies;
While visions of empty houses they dreamed with their buddies;
And the Chaplin in his sweater, and I in my vest,
Had begun to settle our brains for a long winter’s rest;
When inside the classroom there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my office to see what was the matter;
When what to my teacher’s eye did appear,
But a row of punctual learners and another who had been late all year;
More rapid than weekends with their queries did they exclaim,
As students whistled, and shouted, when I called them by name;
“Yes, Archer? Yes, Amber? Yes Parker and Lauren?
Hold on, Charlotte! Sit down, Mohammad! Be patient Esther and Warren!”
In front of the board, to the back of the class, I moved all about,
Until their questions were answered, none left in doubt;
As the day neared its end a group of papers had flung,
Out of a student’s bag from around her shoulder it strung;
Thereafter their eyes made a shift to the clock,
Soon the bell would ring, to the door they would flock;
And rising from my desk I finally made the call,
by giving a nod, I allowed the students to flood the hall;
They sprang from their seats, from their desks they scurried,
And away they all flew, out the doors they hurried;
Then the Headmaster said, ere the students drove out of sight:
“Enjoy the winter break to all, and to all a safe flight.”
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