by Mike Mesterton-Gibbons

A dream showed no more courses to be planned,
No tests to grade, no meetings to be at—
Except for workshops in some far-off land,
Morocco maybe, Spain, or Montserrat …
Each time this dream recurred it would require
Researching in exotic meeting sites
In which I’d give a talk and then retire
To think professor’s thoughts through foreign nights,
Upholding highest standards, even though
Sequestering with scholars on a beach,
Pontificating on the things I know,
Relieved of grading since I couldn’t teach …
One day I did retire. Then Covid came.
Far-off is still far-off. The dream’s the same!