In view of the fact that I have little or no inputs from the class and I will shortly be going in for an operation to remove a tumor in my right thigh, I have decided to fill my column space with the history of my poetic limericks. Back in college days I became enamored with what I now call standard limericks and would often recite naughty or downright crude verses at fraternity parties. After college I would occasionally write short, standard limericks for special occasions such as a friend’s birthday. In 1995 a request went out to write something for our 40th reunion booklet and I responded with a 13-stanza standard limerick titled “A Remembrance of Things Past,” providing a sort of history of my life since graduation. Later, thinking about this poem, I decided that I would try to write something more poetic to reflect my feeling about Dartmouth. Thus was born my first poetic limerick, titled “Thoughts Evergreen,” six stanzas long with a first line setting the theme: “Dartmouth my love’s evergreen.” A copy of this poem, accompanied by a picture of Baker Tower provided by my son, Kevin ’85, is hanging in the entrance foyer to my home. To date I have written 628 poetic limericks, including more than 40 Dartmouth poems.

The archivist at Baker Library informed me that this is an unofficial record.

Sad to say, there are more death notices for the class than ever before. I received notices of the passing of eight classmates as follows: Richard Abrams, William W. Davies, Daniel A Hansche, Carl Hirsch, Capt. S. Peter Huhn (U.S. Navy, retired), the Rev. John H, “Harry” Petter, Richard H. Thorp,M.D., and Marcus W. Smith. These eight classmates follow the Barbary Coast jazz band as it plays a mournful tune and marches up Main Street led by Samson Occom dressed in buckskins. As they march three times around the Green, we, the living, all bow our heads in silent tribute.

—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; jash_125@comcast.net