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The following work is a “found poem,” a collage of verbal graffiti found at Hesburgh Library. The poem is arranged as a single narrative to show how the verbal graffiti speaks to the experience common to all Notre Dame students. This shared experience gives us cause to hope that, despite renovations, there will always be poetry to be found at Hesburgh Library.

 

The dreamers of today are dangerous men…

The genius voice of a generation:

EVERYONE HERE IS

every person who has ever loved.

 

Love is a splendid thing.

But it’s hard. The hardest thing I’ve ever done.

I am not the person I want to be.

(That’s a rather poor ontology;

You are what you pretend to be.)

I’m trying!

 

I loved from a distance b/c I was scared...

and I lost the one who protected me.

If I love you, is that a fact or a weapon?

(Still, a poor ontology).

Susan. I miss you.

 

Your winter seems eternal

But I have promises to keep /And miles to go

before I sleep.

Dreams with open eyes GAZE INTO THE ABYSS

before I sleep,

The cracks in the sidewalk lead me back to you.

The English translation is: love or perish.

 

But the dreamers of today are dangerous men;

At the heart of it, you see, Susan, this is Sparta

No. This is Patrick. Forever alone,

Love is a splendid thing

I’m trying.