The University, Renewed

A sentimental look inside UATX

When you run nearly two years of university-building through your soul, eventually it’ll come out the other side in verse form. I could feel it happening. After spending several weeks wrestling out a few lines here and there, the Muse woke me up one night at 2 a.m. and the rest appeared on the page almost faster than I could write it down.

Here’s my sentimental look inside UATX.

Once-hallowed halls lie hollow there
Where ivy grows with speech ensnared,

Where bureaucrats enlarge the cost
And thoughtful questioning is lost

Pride rests upon a spoil’d mystique,
No longer open to critique

But who can find the old wellspring
Where soulful scholars go to sing

A song composed by forebears wise
Of seeking truth amidst the lies,

Of facing challenges with grit,
Of knowledge deep to recommit

With gratitude for what’s been done,
Of building to a future won

With fortitude that’s borne of grace?
Oh! have you heard of such a place?

Here thought is dared and truth pursued:
The university, renewed

Stephen Plodinec is the Creative Director of the University of Austin.