Agawam High School - Sachem Yearbook (Agawam, MA)

Page 26 text:

Now, tired from futile efforts, The flames sink slowly down And leave but glowing coals And ashes, crusted brown. The smoky bricks grow darker. Soft shadows fill the room As white smoke spirals upward And fades in the chimney’s gloom. I gaze at the burning embers And see a castle there, With lofty spires, and dungeons, And turrets, bleak and bare. With rough-hewn walls and drawbridge That speak of might and power, And tiny flags that flutter From the peak of every tower. Down drops a burning coal. My dreaming eye perceives A lofty Grecian Temple With pillared porch and freize. With massive roof of marble, And curving steps of stone That lead to my Grecian Temple As it stands on a hill, alone. Slowly the pillars crumble. The roof begins to fall And all that is left is ruins Of my gorgeous Grecian Hall. Then I see a towering forest With trees of golden hue, That bend and toss and tremble As though a gale swept through. Lower they bend and lower While the windstorm rushes on. A burst of smoke, a flame, My golden woods are gone. The charred log spits and sputters. The little smoke clouds rise, While the dead-white ashes spread And the fading fire dies. [24]

Page 25 text:

Vivienne. Yes, and what nice presents he brought us! After he went we scurried to the lunch-room to get the goodies. [Mary nods.] Mary. The next big event was the Senior play “Adam and Eva.” Didn’t the cast work hard to make the play a success? Vivienne. Do you remember how well the members fitted into their different roles? And how pleased the faculty were as well as the towns- people who saw it? Mary. Here’s a picture that Miss Jauch took of Annette Letendre climbing over the boat-house porch railing when we had our outing at Smith College. [Displays picture to Vivienne.] Sorry I didn’t get one of our Bay Path Institute outing. Vivienne. We didn’t do much after that, did we? Mary. No. We were too busy exchanging pictures and getting our Prom tickets! Here’s a strip of the decorations, one of the blue and gold streamers, and here’s my program. Vivienne. Wasn’t the hall beautifully decorated? The spotlight gave such a wonderful tropical moonlight effect! Mary. Didn’t the small trees make a pretty scene? Vivienne. Then came class night and graduation. But let’s not talk about that. It always makes me feel lonely. Voice from below. Mary, you’re wanted on the telephone. Vivienne. You go along, Mary. I’ll put the things back in the trunk. Mary goes to answer the phone. Vivienne puts things in trunk, closes it, and follows Mary. Mary A. Bruso Cjfirelight Cfancies he wind is howling fiercely, While sheeted rain beats down Swishing against the windows And drenching the thirsty ground. It’s cold and dark without. Within, the lights burn low And a roaring, open fire Flares with a ruddy glow’. At first, the fire burns brightly With spitting, sputtering sounds, And flames, like things alive, Strain at unseen bonds; Blue-based flames, tipped with yellow, Coiled smoke like misty fogs, And tiny sparks that dance Along the burning logs. l 3]

Page 27 text:

The coals grow ever darker. The shadows spread, until The pictures fade, but the memory Lingers with me still. And I sit and dream of castles With moats and towering walls, Or walk in Grecian Gardens, And stroll through pillared halls; Or search through a maize-like forest Of glittering, burning gold, Though I haven’t stirred from my armchair And the fire on the hearth is cold. And I think, as I sit there dreaming Of what life has in store. Will dreams of the future vanish As through an open door? Or will the spark of knowledge Burst into golden flame And bring, with added years, A wealth of power and fame? And on down through the ages As day fades into night, May we add to the fire of knowledge The fuel to keep it bright. Louise M. Shields [25]