Commencement Address

The caps are on, the gowns are pressed,

The tassels all are straight.

You’ve fought the fight, you’ve passed the test—

It’s time to graduate!

But first, some words of wisdom from

A speaker you admire.

Some speeches sink, some soar, and some

Continue to inspire.

But none says more about you than

The speech that’s being spoken.

Despite our best laid careful plan,

The microphone is broken.

Will you sigh and roll your eyes?

Will you grouse and grumble?

Will you leap to criticize 

A speech that’s all a jumble?

It might not be what it should be,

You might not hear one word,

But if you’re clever, it could be

The best you’ve ever heard!

The best advice, the greatest quotes,

The lessons that it teaches!

The wise and witty anecdotes!

The speech to end all speeches!

The choice is always up to you—

It’s not a metaphor.

So let your education do

What education’s for.

And when the heights seem out of reach,

And no one leads the way,

Go be the graduation speech.

You’ll get there anyway.