Colleagues in Time
I left; you arrived
I waved goodbye as you said hello
yet we are colleagues in time.
I know you by the tracks
you leave in the academic sand,
you know me by initials carved in the old oak desk.
The stream of eager students
that flow by you is from
the same spring as the stream of my time.
When I came we were orphans
and our name changed
from foster home to foster home.
First we were the Department of
Agriculture Education and
then in loud denial we became
The Department of Non- Agriculture Education
This new name got us a department chair
who was Chemistry professor and dean.
Kindness and scientific expertness not enough.
Then a Psychologist as chair
and a friend from a related field
who said go forth and do your thing.