Picture of R. Allan Dermott

R. Allan Dermott

Beyond the Dam: 15

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

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An experience in a classroom during Allan’s Freshman year at Florida State University, when he had begun by majoring in Mathematics, before in his Sophomore year when he changed his major to English Education.

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God Must Love Polyhedrons

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A catastrophic assignment hit the class!

For Mr. Hammerstrein had struck again!

“Rewrite this chapter,” pounding his knuckled brass,

“A week, no more!—that college yearns for men!”

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The topic?  Polyhedrons—with diagrams,

With definitions, drawings, theorems galore.

The week of the class play and multi-exams!

The teenage cataclysm bored to the core.

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My plan was proving all ten theorems anew.

But half past three the last morn, two lay cold.

A guiding thought then slipped a cue to pursue.

The ancient warning hand uncovered gold.

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Intelligence beyond my brain had wrought

An opened Principle free of worried thought.

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