.»«ugsburg College George Sverdrup Library Minneapolis, MN 55454 .If life is but a day, Then day is only a moment. . . Grasp the image firmly - Lest it drift until dusk. from "Wisdom at Dawn” Maynard Danielson Augsburg College, Vol. III, 1960
EDITOR'S FORWARD Man is always seeking ways of expressing his fears, apprehensions, desires and other emotions . We feel that one excellent way of achieving such expression is through the medium of literature. In hope of fulfilling our participation in Augsburg's 1960 Festival of Fine Arts... Show moreEDITOR'S FORWARD Man is always seeking ways of expressing his fears, apprehensions, desires and other emotions . We feel that one excellent way of achieving such expression is through the medium of literature. In hope of fulfilling our participation in Augsburg's 1960 Festival of Fine Arts celebration this second issue of the ARKAI comes to you, with no pretensions . We offer a small collection of miscellany including , we hope, a measure of quality and the genuine. Joyce S. Birkeland Show less
TABLE OF CONTENTS TIME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page FULLNESS DESIRED . .. . . . . . . . . NEW YORK CITY . . . . . . . . . . . . EMPTINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LIFE IN LIBERTY . . . . . . . . . . . . PERSISTENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . u . o u u u c o ¢ u o c o c SENTRY... Show moreTABLE OF CONTENTS TIME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page FULLNESS DESIRED . .. . . . . . . . . NEW YORK CITY . . . . . . . . . . . . EMPTINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LIFE IN LIBERTY . . . . . . . . . . . . PERSISTENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . u . o u u u c o ¢ u o c o c SENTRY DUTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UNCONSCIOUSLY CONSCIOUS o o O a . AUTUMN GHOSTS THE WINDOW . . . . . . o o a i u o o o o u o 0 o o u . u c u c u n o n o u . BEAT OF THE NIGHT . . . . . . . . . . DYING OF DAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TO EMILY WITHOUT WORMS, ETC. . . . 10 11 ll 12 13 14 l5 l7 17 18 18 19 Show less
TIME Turning , whirling, twisting Tornado: blind, relentless, you bear down Upon all in your path, choosing none but taking all- Scholars , conquerors , idols , nations- All caught and held for breathless moments In fierce passion. Golden glory, Power, light shine forth. Then tiring quickly of... Show moreTIME Turning , whirling, twisting Tornado: blind, relentless, you bear down Upon all in your path, choosing none but taking all- Scholars , conquerors , idols , nations- All caught and held for breathless moments In fierce passion. Golden glory, Power, light shine forth. Then tiring quickly of fast-fading charms, You leave them, let them die And howling , shrieking of your triumph Clamor on to yet more conquests . And death and darkness mark your rubble-strewn path. Julie Medbery FULLNESS DESIRED The lamp is low, But has lost not its spark. The tree is not tall, But ignores not its upward thrust Reaching , climbing , growing , This continues . Joyce Birkeland Show less
Chorus: Old man: Rich matron: Young mother: Dock worker: Nurse: Busines 5 man: Chorus: Street vendor: NEW YORK CITY A Play in Verse Silence is above the city because the city murders or shall we say God takes it is all the same with us. We watch and wait the heavy waking which is almost sleeping... Show moreChorus: Old man: Rich matron: Young mother: Dock worker: Nurse: Busines 5 man: Chorus: Street vendor: NEW YORK CITY A Play in Verse Silence is above the city because the city murders or shall we say God takes it is all the same with us. We watch and wait the heavy waking which is almost sleeping still the horror of another day of bridge and tea and finally the cocktail which I desperately need. More diapers and formula and washing which when hung outside becomes as grey as if I had not scrubbed it till my arms ached with the rubbing . Hell of a job but a guy can't starve some will die today and what can you say to ease the pain of those who stay the market seems steady perhaps I dare yet what a scare when it fell last week. No they never cry—- more a moan of millions of voices that just don't know fresh roasted chestnuts fresh roasted Chestnuts I sells 'um hot 'cause it's all I got and people walk by and don't care . 2. Show less
Newstand man: Chorus: Newspape r editor: History teacher: Math teacher: S-ec retary: Chorus: Down in the hole lady - down in the hole like a mole in the dark where the pushing bodies crush a soul and a man can't breathe and the smell is sweat. The pulse is pounding in the city of man , and plan... Show moreNewstand man: Chorus: Newspape r editor: History teacher: Math teacher: S-ec retary: Chorus: Down in the hole lady - down in the hole like a mole in the dark where the pushing bodies crush a soul and a man can't breathe and the smell is sweat. The pulse is pounding in the city of man , and plan deranged Madison Avenue where fur strolls upon pinched bodies in girdles tight and urchins fight in the crowded street teeming millions crowded tight in one big , bad crime mad hell-bent, heaven sent throbbing, screaming , yelling city. ., . America is the land of opportunity the land of milk and honey. If one started with a penny and doubled his sum each day I think it safe to say that in a year . I fear the boss's anger but I won‘t be pinched no more I'm black and blue through and through a girl's got rights° Or so they say that man has rights , don‘t ask who says we are the trees that stand and stare in lonely clumps in witted parks we don't condemn we watch and wait. 3 Show less
Soda jerk: Chorus: Taxi drive r: Chorus: Like I said you keep eating banana splits you gonna get mighty fat, baby so all she says is maybe. . . Living in a pigeon city of soot carved buildings leaning heavy on the sky we tremble in the loneliness of wide grey eyes tear-filled with fear . The... Show moreSoda jerk: Chorus: Taxi drive r: Chorus: Like I said you keep eating banana splits you gonna get mighty fat, baby so all she says is maybe. . . Living in a pigeon city of soot carved buildings leaning heavy on the sky we tremble in the loneliness of wide grey eyes tear-filled with fear . The tempo slows the dusk descends as work day ends. . . Others go home while I still roam the city majestic in the rainbow glare of flashing pink and yellow. The solid black of alley cat has wrapt its furry body round the city that man built. Cynthia Jac obs en Show less
I WAS A TEENAGE GIANT You don't know what a. thing like that can do to a person's psychology. I was analyzed fourteen times before Iwas fourteen, Because my thirteenth year I grew one foot two inches . And when one is a girl five feet eleven inches to begin with, this is nothing to look down upon... Show moreI WAS A TEENAGE GIANT You don't know what a. thing like that can do to a person's psychology. I was analyzed fourteen times before Iwas fourteen, Because my thirteenth year I grew one foot two inches . And when one is a girl five feet eleven inches to begin with, this is nothing to look down upon, You have all read the words of our hero-philoso- pher, Max Shulman, when he tells of the sorrows of Demosthenes, whose offices were on the third floor but who was never able to get to them because the staircase hadn't been invented yet. Well, I felt like that third story, up there in the clouds without anything connecting me and ordinary humanity, My doctors call it a manicndepressive-schizo— phrenic—neurasthenic reaction to an excess growth, I don‘t know about the first part, but the second is certainly sure. To compensate, since there wasn't much I could do about adjusting myself to my peer group, which would have. consisted mainly of pro basketball players , I turned, as have so many in ages past and will so many in ages to come, to the wisdom of ages past and the hope of ages to come; i.e, , books. Again, I consulted my hero-philosopher , who has invented a marvelous method for memorization termed Mnemonics.(lnciden1;ally Mnemon invented the stair- case, a fact which in my case had symbolic implica- tions,) Taking my cue from Max I developed jingles which were my keys for unlocking the wisdom of ages past and the hopes of ages to come. I wandered around the house {which had special high. ceilings built in to accommodate Iny prodigiously elevated altitude) murmuring Mnemonically, The linotype has a line 0' type, A highway has a yellow stripe (Down the middle). My poetry and sense of rhythm, form, syntax, Show less
alliteration, and so on and on was not yet highly devel— oped (which unfortunately did not apply to my stature, which was). But it came. Soon I was muttering Mnemonically , Yosemite is a great big park, And Noah built a great big ark. It's amazing how much knowledge can be crammed into one little... Show morealliteration, and so on and on was not yet highly devel— oped (which unfortunately did not apply to my stature, which was). But it came. Soon I was muttering Mnemonically , Yosemite is a great big park, And Noah built a great big ark. It's amazing how much knowledge can be crammed into one little sentence . And through Mnemonics one forms also understand and love for words. Words, words, words . . . scintillating, precious, fragile, beautiful, cashmere, reticule, cat, dog. Well, anyway. No doubt you wonder at this coming from a child of four- teen and a seven-footer at that. Besides, I couldn't spend all my time as similating and amalgamating wisdom. I had to live live live also. I had to examine my interests, abilities, and aptitudes and on the basis of these considerations formulate my long range goals. In my case , my long range interfered with my goals. Several occupational vocational possibilities presented themselves to me -- I was offered, for example, even at my young age, a position as head giraffe feeder at Como; however, seeing little chance for advancement, I was obliged to turn the position down. Besides, time passed and I - I blush to speak the words - I - I hesitate to speak the words - I - I must speak the words - I fell in love. Whistles blew, birds flew, flower grew, I lost my shoe , but I was true, to only you. It was a little awkward at first, being a foot or so taller, but again I turned for an answer to my unfailing source and spring of wisdom, my Max. And he has an answer. I wish here to pause and pay tribute to a great man who has in times of distress and anguish never let me down. Or rather, pay tribute because he did let me down. Have you ever heard of inverted wedgies? No? Well, that's because no one, not even my beloved, no one but Max could have thOught of them, and without them (even smoked I Marlboro) my life would have been a fizzle, simply a fizzle and no other thing. But with them, and with Max, and with my beloved, I too was able Show less
to become a useful and integrated member of the com- munity, working together for the good of the community, that is to say, '.of me and my beloved. Nor did I forget the wisdom learnt during those Mnemonic years of hardship, struggle , and strife . I hope you too will come, through suffering, to... Show moreto become a useful and integrated member of the com- munity, working together for the good of the community, that is to say, '.of me and my beloved. Nor did I forget the wisdom learnt during those Mnemonic years of hardship, struggle , and strife . I hope you too will come, through suffering, to peace and adjustmanship as I have. Towards this end, let me close by saying: A vacuum cleaner is a wonderful thing Let us all give thanks and sing. Naomi Christen 5 en EMPTINESS Alone down in the swamp, Among the broken pine and twisted cypress; Alone with the frogs and crickets-— and the emptiness . I sit here alone , Shrouded in selfapity and deep despair; Alone with the eeri night-bird's call—- to this emptiness . As the darkness folds it's arms, Around the droopy, gloomy Spanish moss; Then the slowly creeping fog — fills the emptiness. I breathe the haunted air , Hanging like a lost soul doomed; Forever hanging between earth and sky — in this emptiness ., Ermon L. Deen Show less
LIFE IN LIBERTY The town had gone to rest. One light after the other was swallowed up into the darkness of the night. The streets were deserted and only now and then a car rushed by. The heat of the past day had created an uncomfortable humidity which was a burden for the whole town. Philip Baker... Show moreLIFE IN LIBERTY The town had gone to rest. One light after the other was swallowed up into the darkness of the night. The streets were deserted and only now and then a car rushed by. The heat of the past day had created an uncomfortable humidity which was a burden for the whole town. Philip Baker rolled restlessly on his bed. He tried to fall asleep but it was just too hot. The air arOund him was filled with tension. In his restlessness he saw himself sitting on a charge of dynamite with the fuse lit. Suddenly, for the instant of a second, a bright beam bathed the whole room in a yellow-green light. A loud thunder like the shooting of a cannon followed the lightning interrupting violently the silence . Phil jumped up and rushed to the window. He looked into the night which was in short intervals lighted by beams of lightning. Without luck he waited for the falling of the cooling rain° Phil was disappointed. After all these hours of sweat and restlessness no relief had come . He returned to his bed to take up the fight with sleeplessness again, It was not only the heat which kept Phil awake. There were other tensions which moved in his mind shouting to be heard. He thought of his friend and classmate Joe Smith, who had been arrested a few days ago because he had declined to leave a lunch counter which showed the sign "Whites Only." Phil thought also of Mr. Jones who lived only a few blocks away. Mr. Jones had registered his name so that he could take part in the last election according to his citizenship rights . Quite clearly Phil saw Mr. Jones' car with its broken windows and the three “K's” smeared over the hood. Phil's tension and restlessness was not only of outside heat. His inside was quite hot also. His eyes were directed toward the wall opposite him. In the brightness of the lightning a large book page could be noticed. It was fastened to the wall. Phil had read its coilitext many times. "The Gettysburg Address" was its? t1t e . . 1 8 1 Show less
The new day came. Through the streets cars rushed in great numbers . At the corner where a bus stopped every five minutes people gathered to go to work. Though the sun shone very bright the air was quite chilly ’1n these early morning hours . There was no doubt that it would be a hot day again.... Show moreThe new day came. Through the streets cars rushed in great numbers . At the corner where a bus stopped every five minutes people gathered to go to work. Though the sun shone very bright the air was quite chilly ’1n these early morning hours . There was no doubt that it would be a hot day again. After a fast breakfast Phil picked up his books and went on his way to school. It would only be a few more months until he would graduate from South High. He was quite proud when he thought of it. His way to school was not too far but far enough to give him time to think about his plans for the day. Right after school he wanted to visit Joe and cheer him up a little. Slowly the hours passed. It was as if the school bell would never bring the last class to an end. Phil left the school very quickly. Before going to see Joe he wanted to get a bite to eat at the drugstore a few blocks away. As usual at this time the counters were very busy and it was hard to find an empty seat. Phil looked around. “Nothing free on this side," he thought. Over at the other counter a seat just became free. Should he go and sit down? For a moment he was not sure. "All men are equal," a voice shouted within him. He saw the face of his friend before him and began to walk. He walked straight toward the empty seat and sat down. To his left sat a tall blond fellow who was about 25 years old. To his right a woman of about 40 was seated. As soon as he sat down the eyes Of his neighbors were on him. The woman to his right stood up and walked away. The waitress came up to Phil. “Can't you read?" she asked in a most unfriendly and harsh voice. "One hamburger and a cup of coffee, please,“ said Phil. "This counter is for whites only. You better leave fast,” the waitress said. "Please no onions. I don't care for any,” he added. "Shut up you burn. Can't you hear what the lady said?" The fellow to Phil's left had turned to him and looked angry at him. All eating had stopped. All eyes rested upon Phil. "Why should I leave? I have as much right as you to sit here. All men are created equal and the money with which I pay is as Show less
good as yours . ” Phil was calm but he knew that others around him were not so calm. "So you think you are as good as I am. You better go back to the slum where you came from ,‘,‘ yelled the blond fellow. "Get out Nigger,ll someone shouted. "Call the cops,” someone else said. Phil still sat... Show moregood as yours . ” Phil was calm but he knew that others around him were not so calm. "So you think you are as good as I am. You better go back to the slum where you came from ,‘,‘ yelled the blond fellow. "Get out Nigger,ll someone shouted. "Call the cops,” someone else said. Phil still sat calmly on his seat. The shouting of protests from the counter increased. Suddenly Phil felt a push and he found himself on the floor. Looking up he saw before him the blond felIOW. l‘If this doesn't cure you I'll teach you some manners,” the fellow said. Phil stood up slowly. A deep silence lay over the whole room. "You are not too polite," Phil said. "You need some manner-teaching yourself." This was too much for his white opponent. He aimed his fist at Phil's face and hit him hard. The mob laughed. Phil stumbled backwards toward the door which opened at this very moment. Two policemen came in. Phil landed right in their arms. The evening had come. The heat of the past day lay heavily upon the city. "It's rather hot in here," said Phil. “It's been this way all day," replied Joe. With his right hand Phil gently touched his chin. "I sure hope it will rain tonight," he said. "I hope so too. We could need some cooling off in these parts," answered Joe . Norbert Mokros PERSISTENCE To try Is to forget All failures and defeat, For it takes courage and patience to Repeat. Diane Olsen 10 Show less
ME* : Silence. The top . . . And at something. In search of Into the sky The rocks, reaching Trees standing far from *This poem to be read from the bottom up. TO A WOMAN Soft drooping curve of hair Plunges pasta flashing eye , Outward. Smear of burnt wood eyebrow Saucily tilted saying: “Know me .... Show moreME* : Silence. The top . . . And at something. In search of Into the sky The rocks, reaching Trees standing far from *This poem to be read from the bottom up. TO A WOMAN Soft drooping curve of hair Plunges pasta flashing eye , Outward. Smear of burnt wood eyebrow Saucily tilted saying: “Know me . ” And I cannot know her As I would. David L. Johnson 11 Show less
SENTRY DUTY He was wet and cold and hungry and he was fifty thousand light-years from home . A strange yellow sun gave light and the gravity, twice what he was used to, made movement difficult. But in thousands of centuries this part of war had not changed. The flyboys were fine with their sleek... Show moreSENTRY DUTY He was wet and cold and hungry and he was fifty thousand light-years from home . A strange yellow sun gave light and the gravity, twice what he was used to, made movement difficult. But in thousands of centuries this part of war had not changed. The flyboys were fine with their sleek spaceships and their fancy weapons. When the chips were down, though, it was still the foot soldier, the infantry, that had to take the ground and hold it, foot by bloody foot. Like this lousy planet of a star he'd never heard of until they'd landed him there. And now it was sacred ground because the Aliens were there, too. The Aliens, the only other intelligent race in the Galaxy. . . cruel, hideous, and repulsive monsters. Contact had been made with them near the center of the Galaxy, after the slow, difficult colonization of a dozen thousand planets; and it had been war at sight; they'd shot without even trying to negotiate , or to make peace. Now, planet by bitter planet, it was being fought out. He 'was wet and cold and hungry, and the day was raw with a strong wind that hurt his eyes. But the Alien: were trying to infiltrate and every sentry post was vital. He stayed alert, gun ready. Fifty thousand light- years from home, fighting on a strange world and wondering if he'd every live to see home again. And then he saw one of them crawling toward him. He drew a bead and fired. The Alien made that strange horrible sound they all make , then lay still. He shuddered at the sound and sight of the Alien lying there. One ought to be able to get used to them 12 Show less
