POEM
By Margaret M. Harris, Research Soil Scientist (erstwhile English major)
AWSS Newsletter, January 1985

When she was young her role was cast
according to some plan
Two token years at college, then,
the search to find a MAN.

"You want to work?" her mother asked
(With visions of her own)
Like secretary to her dad
to type and 'man' the phone.

That's not exactly what she meant
at University
Her goals were somewhat different
like, a Bachelor's Degree.

Her chosen field seemed logical
to those who picked the same
But things began to slide a bit
when mother's letter came.

"I sent you off to dancing school
when you were only three
To art class, sewing, cooking class
and you chose FORESTRY?

However will you find a man
with Wall Street expertise
When all you do is spend your time
out there among the trees?"

She lay awake for many nights
in spite of all her toils
Rehearsing how to tell her mom
she's majoring in SOILS.

Eventually she finished school
an M.S. in her hand
And off she went to parts unknown
to classify the land.

Her mother now accepts the fact
she's finally learned the scene,
So when she shops at Christmas time
It comes from L. L. Bean.