New Poem: "Formalities, or Getting to Know You"
A romantic poem
The occasion of this poem was a party for new faculty, years ago.
Formalities, or Getting to Know You
By Tyler Morrison
1 “New hires means a meet-and-greet! A welcome dinner! The boss’s treat!” Resigned to join the congregation, I sign, accept the invitation, Arrive despite my trepidation, And find a chair and man my station. Obliged by strangers’ expectations, We wind up talking occupations, Required jokes and profanations, But kite around real conversations. Confined to routine mastication When time has spent articulation, We dine, but with too few libations. (The booze ain’t free, per regulations.) 2 “Tonight’s a night of celebration!" We try to enjoy the situation. Tonight’s a night of obligation, So I’ll pretend the full duration. Then Beauty slew monotony. My look begins to wander past The people seated next to me. And out of my periphery, I catch a sight, and I am caught. I saw you from across the room And wished to see you more. 3 My eyes alight upon your face, A place well-lit, but not just bright. Somehow it looks just like the light, Which gives us shape, color, form. The organs see, but more than my vision Your vision fills. You fill up heart and soul. I know you have to go, and I Don’t even know your name... But there was darkness, bitter cold, And your face has made me—Wondrous!—warm. 4 We have not met. No words have passed between us yet. No names exchanged, nor hands have shook. Your face is all that I have learned. The sum of what I know of you is one. So much is written in that face, More precious than a Grecian vase. The memory of both can’t be replaced, But ancient pottery’s not so pretty. Who you are, to be near that one, Is all that I right now could want. To encounter you is all that I desire. Till then, I have no choice but verse.
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