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A Ghost of UW Past

Earle Birney, a Canadian poet, was the Writer in Residence at UW (then Waterloo University) from 1967-1968. During his career, he taught creative writing at several universities, including the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto. Following is a poem that he wrote about the University.

1984 MINUS 17 & COUNTING AT U OF WATERLOO ONTARIO

after the calorestimated meal
in the male hall
they walk back to the compulibratories
keeping to the asphalt paths
conceived by the landtects

sometimes a thousand are in forward motion
engimechs the plureality         at 0826 hrs
in pairs         with crewcuts         hands by flanks
& slightly crooked below rainbreakers (yellow)
with U of W on the back
ENGINEERS on upper sleeve L
& black number upper R

since none of this is actually required by deans
nor the gloves (black)         hushpuppies (grey)
nor absence of headcover & expression
what is felt is communiternity         a capusalt

the mathamen         cruts not quite so short
are sometimes grouped in 3s
but otherwise all waterloobed:
hands by flanks & slightly...(yellow)...
MATHS on...black...grey...absence
almost striking—communalove at least

a few artsies yet (terminal class of '71)
midearburns / 1 in 10
dress as above of course
but some have briefcases in R hand
wear their ARTS upon their sleeves
& walk alone

1967

Source: Earle Birney, ONE MUDDY HAND: Selected Poems, Harbour Publishing, 2006.