Reading Notes

Goedicke intended to close her 2003 commencement speech with a reading of this poem, however, as her recollection indicates, she forgot to bring a copy to read. As indicated in her reading notes, she tends to read this poem toward the end of a reading to convey a sense of hope and optimism. In the notes below, Goedicke writes, "I want to read it to you as a kind of present...and as a kind of fierce hope for the future."