To our lovely readers,
This marks the last issue of 2024 and we would like to thank you all for another wonderful year! Here is a short poem that we hope can accompany you through these wintery nights and bring some warmth into your days. Happy Holidays, and may all your winter breaks be merry and bright!
With lots of love,
The Phillipian, vol. CXLVII
Each Student down in Andover liked the holidays a lot
But the Gunga, who lived in North Reading absolutely did NOT!
Gunga was what they called a Scrooge, dreading December-related fads
But this holiday season, Gunga decided to take matters into his own hands
Gunga sat up, all straight, and jumped up from his cradle
Signs nailed to his windows, “NO SANTA OR DREIDELS”
Gunga started his golf cart, which ran on resentment
And set course for Phillips Academy, his strategy, relentless
First, Gunga would sever all cheer in Susie’s
By short circuiting the jukebox that fueled karaoke
And as if that weren’t enough for the irritable ape
He’d ruin the Kemper movie by speeding up the tape
Now well on a streak, he could truly weather a storm
By detangling and unraveling string lights from the dorms
And in one last hurrah, just before he would go
Gunga’d strap on a leaf blower and melt all the snow
Now grinning ear-to-ear about his mouth-watering daydream
Gunga drove slowly up Salem Street, so as not to be seen
And with no imperfections, everything went Gunga’s way
He’d taken the music, movies, lights, and snow—Gunga’d stolen the holidays!
But as Gunga went to start his cart, his anger did perish
For he saw the true meaning of the holidays were the people you cherish
As students emerged from their dorms, wondering how the snow disappeared
Not for a second did they falter in exchanging holiday cheer
There Gunga did realize, he had the extraneous parts
For the key to the holidays lies in everyone’s hearts
Everyone’s hearts, from LA to Manila
Everyone’s hearts, except a very lonely gorilla
So with his head held low, Gunga took his cue to go
With the music, the movies, the lights, and the snow
But in the spirit of Big Blue, a stranger jumped in Gunga’s way
“No person should spend the holidays alone—no person, or primate!”
Overwhelmed with emotions, Gunga turned to Big Blue
He gave back the holidays and gave into them too
Now through these long, dark nights, when we long for home
Across warmly lit campus grounds, we no longer wander alone
Turn to those we cherish, whom we share laughter in the dorm
For they may keep our hearts ablaze, a shelter from the winter storm
Though the wind may be cold, our common rooms are snug
Hot cocoa filling our many mugs
Festive lights twirling and dancing within the dorm
Snowball fights becoming a fresh new norm
Holiday cheer easing any dismay
Students and faculty can taste a sweet holiday
Shoutout to Commons Bill, for cleaning our Commons mess
To the omelet chef, we all want to say “bless”
We return to eating our meals like toddlers,
Brought back to holiday music from our younger years
The snow falls, covering the land in white
Love its quiet beauty or curse its icy misery under fading light
But as the chill sets, let the fireplaces glow bright and clear
A beacon of joy, love, and the season’s jolly cheer!
