for roger at graduation

there's much to do and no reason to pause
but we must go and say the proper sooth
be honest tell the plain unvarnished truth
and send him forth upon his lifetime cause
we'll hear the trite and much-repeated saws
the straining humour and the enforced ruth
the future we'll be told is for these youth
but you know best the value of these years
the friends the love the triumphs and mistakes
and all the things you've managed to learn
let all be weighed for soon will come more cares
youths do the things they do for their own sakes
and you will come to my place in your turn