South Philadelphia High School for Girls - Portal Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

Page 82 text:

DE.Ali Guns: Do you recall the lines of Rahindranath Tagore:M UTl1e flower fades and dies, hut lie who wears the flower has not to moiwn for it -f0TC'l'C7'N? If you have had your first corsage, you will know how unhappy one may feel to see flowers fading. Of course the poet had in mind more significant flowers of life. The happy times you've had in school will cause tears on the part of many of you when you see them fading on Commencement evening. Tagore wants to warn us, not against weeping for what we lose, hut against keeping our faces turned to the past. To love life and live it richly will mean that we shall see many flowers we prize die, and we, having loved them, will mourn-hut not, let us hope, ever ! There is such a temptation, after a few disappointf uforf ments to think of the past as a golden age, and to expect little of the present. For your own sake, and for the sake of each other, keep your faces turned forward, the memory of lost flowers strengthening, not weakening, you to live richly and fully in the present, working for a more glorious future! With all good wishes, tb Nl l'1'llf'll-l'i!l'If

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springtinu' solitnvss ot' rosa-hiuls. tlu- alluring. ,J txotic t'ragr:nu-v ot' orchids . . . Y Ih'li1'atv and .1 lvrilliant hurs tI'fIllSl'0l'lll tht- hallroonl into a swirling symphony of color. tht- stavcato notcs ol' navv hluv :intl khaki tapping with niilitarv EAIITS EAT If DA CE TIDIE 3--. AL K. ff , it f F 3 it it 5 l , ' 'X l it fill N lUlI'l' of moonlight anal lllilglt' :nul IllllHit'. tillm-rl with womlcrtiully tantalizing odors I , 5 . . tht' lu-:ivy swm-tm-ss ot g'!lI'tlt'lllIlS. tht- 'vt'ision. 5ontlu'rn's girls lulvm' sprontml gos- 1 s nm-rs that waft tht-in on tht- wings ot' song ho- xouml tht' nnnulanr . . . tht' t'UIlllll0llIlltlK'K'. .Xhovv tht- hunt of xoivvs :intl tinlih- ot' vlussvs tht' lilting strains ol' lfarl l,t'lllly'N C'lussni:itt-s rlist-on-r t':u'h othvr ann-w with ou-ln'stra nmlu' ill'1ll'tS twat in ll1IIll't' tllllth :ls :nhniring vycs as tht-y introclnu- tht-ir 1-sm-orts hirling vouph-s till tht' litillllll-lll Ciraiul Ball- . . . sohlivrs. sailors. :nul xl2H'iIlt'S . . . many ol' om with youth :nul gayvty: not clam-ing to thvui suhstituting for tht- girls' own st-rvivv nu-n ist-:upv tha- grim rn-ality ot' war. not tl2llll'lllg.f now far away. ls though this wt-rv to ht- ont- last lnasl fling . . , Anal as tlu- glamorous. nu'inor:ihh' t-vt-ning st tlanving l!l't'flllSt' tht-y art' young antl strong timlcs away. vouph-s rlrift clown tlu- stcps of thc nul contialcnt. and ln-caiisv tht-5' lou' to tlanvm' llotm-I Pllll1ltlt'lplliItll and out into tht' night . . intl low' to laugh. to vat :xml laugh anml ml:nu'v till morning! SWTVIIfjl-.V1'I'l'll lg. 'ik

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7 O I I T0 0RROW Seventy-u ine Beyond the rows of damp-eyed parents Beyond the teachers, seats, corridors Beyond the open door I stand, Beckoning . . . waiting. Above the salutations and rustle of programs Above the music and heavy breathing I am Calling . . . whispering . . . Come, I am brutal and ugly, and I challenge you. Colne, I ani beautiful beyond comprehension, and I welcome you. I was here before you came. I shall be here when you are gone. Subdue me, train me, bend me to your will. Take one last look, and come! Bring your curiosity, your common sense, your fresh, young vitality . . . enrich all with a sense of beauty, fairness . . . charity . . . Come, eager . . . unafraid . . . come to me laughing under the burden of destiny . . . And I will love you!