Years ago I was a graduate student at
Teachers College Columbia in NYC.
One afternoon in gray weather I was
Walking at the corner of  Morningside
Heights on the upper Westside near TC
And came across a bunch of boxes with
Trash put out for removal.  I stopped to
See what was in it.  I discovered several
Framed diplomas of old graduate degrees
My guess was that the owner was probably
An old resident maybe a retired faculty
Member who had passed away.  All the
Time, effort and distinction represented
What did it all amount to; to the people who
Cleaned out the old man's apartment?
For a moment I understood the truth of life
As Soloman said: All is vanity;  but poignant
Still to us who must live it believing in it.