Show Me the Place, 30

“Show me the place.”

Duke Senior in As You Like It (2.1)

30: The Harmon School Stage: 1975–1978, 1982–1997

The Harmon stage, though not complex,

Became for me a magic scene,

Where talents, skills, and intellects

Were on display—there to be seen.

I watched those players, year by year,

And felt from them an energy—

A deep devotion (it was clear)—

Devotion that affected me.

From musicals to silly things—

To 8^th grade shows and more—

A face contorts, a sweet voice sings—

An orange and puzzling folding door!

Yes, dancers, singers, actors—all.

The bolt of sweet surprise.

How much I loved—and can recall—

And tears still flood my eyes.

Show Me the Place, 29

“Show me the place.”

Duke Senior in As You Like It (2.1)

29: Harmon (Middle) School; Aurora, Ohio; 1974–78, 1982–97

A brand-new building—we moved in—

And had to learn some things.

There were not many walls at all—

So noise and woe were kings.

But soon we figured how to teach

In such unlikely space,

And Harmon School would soon become

A very special place.

The faculty? Just unsurpassed.

The students? Eager. Fun.

And soon I found I loved my days

At Harmon—every one.

(Well, maybe not quite every one—

But most were silver, gold.)

I felt that this became the place

Where warmth replaced the cold.

And Harmon had a stage for us—

A place to do our plays.

I felt I was in heaven there

In those old Harmon Days.

lunch duty, Harmon School, 1995-96

Show Me the Place, 28

“Show me the place.”

Duke Senior in As You Like It (2.1)

28: 214 S. Willow; Kent, Ohio; 1972–75*

We moved into a larger place—

We had a child—we needed space.

A rental—but a splendid one

Where Steve would grow—where we had fun.

And what a thrill for Joyce and me:

Each had a study! Ecstasy!

And Joyce was teaching—so was I—

And taking classes, by the by.

But soon we knew we’d move again—

To own our place! (But where? And when?)

We found a house not far away—

And there we moved one hopeful day.

*razed during Kent’s recent esplanade project

Show Me the Place, 27

“Show me the place.”

Duke Senior in As You Like It (2.1)

323 College Court; Kent, Ohio; 1969–72

Our first apartment, there in Kent—

And it is where we gladly spent

Our first three years of marriage. It

Was in a cul-de-sac—a hit

With us. And just across the street?

My principal! Mike Lenzo. (Neat!)

A bedroom, kitchen, and a bath—

And living, dining—do the math—

Oh, not much space for Joyce and me—

But, oh, a form of ecstasy.

Joyce walked to classes up the hill—

Then back again, where she’d instill

In me the lessons that she’d learned—

Oh, in this marriage, what I’d earned!

I took my classes up there, too—

Both nights and summers—lots to do.

And then our little boy was born—

So we moved on (oh, we were worn!).

The place still stands—and I am glad,

Reminding me of all we’ve had.

Show Me the Place, 26

“Show me the place.”

Duke Senior in As You Like It (2.1)

Satterfield Hall; Kent State University; Summer Session, 1969

I thought I’d take a summer class*—

A master’s sounded like a plan.

It was a kind of boarding pass—

I’d do the work—become The Man!

I noticed her right from the start—

So bright, attractive—every way.

But came a message from my heart:

“You have no hope—no, not a ray.”

And so I did not speak to her—

Why break my heart in hopelessness?

But then a wonder did occur:
She spoke to me! And I confess

That’s been the wonder of my life—

That day that Joyce first spoke to me.

For decades now she’s been my wife—

And now I curse mortality.

*American Transcendentalism, taught by Prof. Kenneth Pringle; it was a class neither Joyce nor I wanted to take—our first choices (not the same) were full.

Show Me the Place, 25

“Show me the place.”

Duke Senior in As You Like It (2.1)

25: Aurora Middle School; Room 116; 1966–67

Room 116 was where I learned—

Yes, learned as well as taught.

The first year of my long career—

And there’s where I was caught.

Yes, forty students in each class—

And seventh graders, all.

The days were long and pressure-packed—

Each day I’d rise; I’d fall.

The room was full of tables, and

A teacher’s desk, as well.

The P.A. speaker on the wall—

Of course a ringing bell

To signify the end of class—

Beginning of the next.

I spent most of my days that year

Enchanted—and perplexed.

Eventually, I knew that this

Was how I’d spend my days.

I fell in love with teaching then—

The years passed in a blaze.

Pics from 1966-67 yearbook--Jaguar Tracks

Show Me the Place, 24

“Show me the place.”

Duke Senior in As You Like It (2.1)

24: Aurora Middle School Gym: 1966–1973

The middle school could boast no stage—

And so we used the old gym floor

To mount productions (all the rage!).

It would suffice—but not much more.

The audience in bleacher seats—

The players spread out down below.

And there the players showed their feats

Of acting magic. What a show!

Our lights were either off or on—

Until one year—a spotlight came!

And then just off-and-on was gone,

And shows were never quite the same.

And then we moved to Harmon School—

Which had a stage—some simple lights.

And now our shows were really cool!

With hitherto unlikely sights.

In ways I missed that “ancient” gym—

Our cast spread out for all to see.

But I guess having lights that dim

Was better for our … artistry?

from The Adventures of Robin Hood; or, 
The Man with the Green Robber Band
May 29, 1969
Aurora Middle School

Show Me the Place, 23

“Show me the place.”

Duke Senior in As You Like It (2.1)

23: Aurora Middle School; Aurora, Ohio; 1966–1974

When I played high school basketball,

I played in that same gym—

Against that old Aurora High, which

Was now full to the brim

With middle-schoolers—and with me,

A teacher now—first year.

And I was terrified, of course—

Yes, filled with every fear. 

A brand-new teacher must persist—

Must get through every day.

And so I tried—succeeded (some)—

And soon had found the way

To have the best time of my life—

So many days were fun.

I learned from gifted colleagues,* who

Were not to be outdone.

Room 116–that was my room

In 1966,

A place where I soon had to learn

Varieties of tricks

To keep the kids alert, awake—

And please myself, as well.

A year of wonder I enjoyed—

And had some tales to tell!

*Eileen Kutinsky, Willetta Thomas, Jim Wright, and so many others ...

Show Me the Place, 22

“Show me the place.”

Duke Senior in As You Like It (2.1)

22: Ravenna Rd.; Twinsburg, Ohio; 1966–67

My first apartment—on my own—

In Twinsburg, 1966.

I hardly felt that I was grown—

I had no friends, no foes, no cliques.

It stood there on Ravenna Road—

With two apartments—older place.

But, still, it was my first abode.

Bare furniture—that’s no disgrace?

To my first job—a five-mile drive.

I was a teacher—sore afraid

That I perhaps would not survive—

Would I succeed? And make the grade?

(The place is gone—yes, razed and gone.

I’m not sure when that act occurred.

The decades just flow on and on—
Like some faint, disappearing word.

No picture—see final stanza.

Show Me the Place, 21

“Show me the place.”

Duke Senior in As You Like It (2.1)

21: Whitcomb Hall; Hiram College, 1964–66

I started college—lived at home

Throughout my freshman year.

But then my parents let me move—

I thought the coast was clear!

To Whitcomb Hall—right up the hill.

A dorm—a new one, too.

I got a room—yes, 206.

It had a pleasant view.

Those dorm years really flew along—

Such fun with many friends.

And then—all over—suddenly:

All pleasure always ends.

And I was on my very own—

A teacher, down the road.

A job, a salary, and—yes!—

I found a sweet abode.

Show Me the Place, 20

“Show me the place.”

Duke Senior in As You Like It (2.1)

20: Hinsdale Hall; Hiram College; Hiram, Ohio; 1956–66

In Hinsdale Hall—and called “Old Main”—

My father had his office, and

He taught his classes (always planned!).

They tore it down—how inhumane.

I took my classes in Old Main—

Yes, English, history, math, and more.

Philosophy and German, floor by floor.

They tore it down—how inhumane.

It had a belfry, did Old Main.

We rang the bell at special times.

Like holidays (no sound of chimes!)

They tore it down—how inhumane.

My life was changed there in Old Main—

Professor Ravitz showed me how

To read—and think—and write. And now?

They’ve torn it down—how inhumane.

Show Me the Place, 19

“Show me the place.”

Duke Senior in As You Like It (2.1)

19: Playgrounds, 1950–62

My Oklahoma playground? Red.

And dirt. And rocks. And so much fun.

I hoped recess would not be done—

But it was short, and hope soon dead.

Unless blood flowed (it sometimes did),

The teachers just ignored the “play.”

They stood and stared—yes, every day—

And sometimes saved a pummeled kid.

Each day I trudged back to my class—

Just dripping sweat and purest joy.

I was a very happy boy—

But happiness would quickly pass

As class commenced, and silence reigned.

The clock slowed down; the teachers droned.

And happiness was then postponed

While predicates I heard explained.

In Amarillo—monkey bars!

Our wars* upon them during lunch.

And I defeated quite a bunch

Of kids. I was among the stars—

Until I lost and quit the stupid game.

And pouted ’round—and sulked a bit—

Until I soon grew tired of it—

Returned to playing—not the same.**

In Hiram, lots of grass and turf.

And throwing balls (and sometimes rocks—

And sometimes taking painful knocks)—

Sometimes a lord, sometimes a serf.

Those boyhood playgrounds were for me

A place to melt, a place to thaw—

My own luxurious Shangri-la

Where I enjoyed such ecstasy!

*We would take turns swinging out, hand over hand, to the center, where our opponent awaited. We would try to wrap our legs around him/her, and pull the loser DOWN!

**Because I started losing more.