The SennerA poem, a true story,
a work dedicated to my brilliant math teacher,
and the wonderful video of the same name:Once upon a math class dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a dull and useless problem done the night before,
While I nodded, nearly dozing, suddenly! some thought imposing,
A God of thoughts, a celestial thought, racing ‘round my languished mind:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2XCg3Gu-YA(You see, dear reader, I was eager—being shown that site before
By our teacher, Mr. Senner, just a week and days before—
To show the world this Youtube gold, this song to which my soul was sold,
This band, whose namesake from him taking, had been making
Who, with some stick fights and foot-shaking, had been making
Godlike song with saintly chords!)
And distinctly I remember: it was in the crisp November,
As each boredom-stricken student gazed with yearning at the door.
My friend was sleeping, and I, keeping watch of time so quickly fleeting.
I leaned beside, and in aside, asked if he’d seen before,
—Perchance my friend had seen that video before—
He claimed he had, and nothing more.
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
`Ah!,' said I, `we should coerce him, pay him, bribe him, or else force him!
Make him show the class that video we were shown by him before!
And so quietly he went writing, writing on the board
“Search up Senner VII,” said the writing on the board
Quoth the Senner, ‘Nevermore.’
But this silent man beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance he wore,
`Though thee has said tis not the season, thou,' I said, `has not a reason.
Omnipotent and mighty teacher, why do you our pleads ignore?
Tell us why thee never gives a reason for our pleads ignored?'
Quoth the Senner, `Nevermore.'
Much I marvelled at this answer, not the one which I would chance for,
Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that few living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2XCg3Gu-YA on the net before -
A video with the name of www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2XCg3Gu-YA on the net before,
But twas his answer: ‘Nevermore.’
But the Senner, sitting lonely on the cluttered desk, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
No more words then did he utter – only numbers did he mutter-
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Not one friend has seen before -
In the end, I’ll make him show it, as he knows he can’t endure.'
Then the man said, `Nevermore.'
Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
`Doubtless,' said I, `what he utters is his only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy class which caused unmerciful disaster,
Which followed fast and followed faster, till his cries one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
Of "Never-nevermore."'
This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat now wondering, with my mind the video pondering,
Over swordfights, moving feet, and hair grown down to ‘neath their knees
But whose swordfights, moving feet, and hair grown down to ‘neath their knees
They shall see, ah, nevermore!
Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
`Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee
A name – a name like Senner, a name that www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2XCg3Gu-YA proudly bore!
Now show, oh show this www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2XCg3Gu-YA to us; give us joy and end this bore!'
Quoth the Senner, `Nevermore.'
`Senner!' said I, `name of evil! - Senner still, if man or devil! -
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore -
Shall thee show www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2XCg3Gu-YA to us, ever? - tell me - tell me, I implore!'
Quoth the Senner, `Nevermore.'
`Senner!' shrieked I, `name of evil! - Senner still, if man or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall see a certain www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2XCg3Gu-YA whom the angels so adore -
Clasp a rare and radiant www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2XCg3Gu-YA, whom the angels so adore?'
Quoth the Senner, `Nevermore.'
`Be that word our sign of parting, precalc coach!' I shrieked upstarting -
`Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no numbers as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the desk beside your door!
Take thy teeth from out my heart, and take thy form from out my door!'
Quoth the Senner, ‘Zeffy, I would like you to sit over here in the front.’
And so,
The Senner not permitting, I am sitting, still am sitting
On that lonely desk that lies before the Senner’s door.
The bell has rung, the kids depart, their heads held high, but oh! my heart!
Even now, the song’s unsung! The cause—is lost! Not yet! Not now!
Alas! the video, ah! the video, lies obscure now, disavowed now,
Shall be shown now—nevermore!
