Pondering on the Grass Hill

Here lies those who take their time 

Some sit on their phones, some talk, some do work, others read, few slackline, some take in the sun 

A place free of restraints and responsibilities 

Barefoot slackliners, girls gossiping on a blanket, people napping, and trees as high as one can see 

The sun shines well here so you might crawl under a tree for shade and companionship Dogs run around as if it were a dog park but have the luxury of endless petting from students as they pass by 

Some people are passing time between classes, others sit around without a schedule in sight 

I have class in 10 minutes so I’ll hacky sack for 5 minutes 

5 minutes later it’s been 35 minutes and I’ve missed a decent amount of my class It feels rude to walk in late so I’ll hacky sack for another few minutes and catch up later An hour passes and I just can't leave the sack circle 

The sack circle is here now so I can’t leave, especially because my homework will be there when I get home so there’s no rush to get it done now 

I have class in 5 minutes but right now I’m at the pond and this time is sacred It’s time to reflect and observe everything that is happening up until the point my ass hit the grass The scenery of laid back students and towering trees and bushes reminds me to check in with myself, so I think, “This is nice, how are you doing?” 

If it's quiet the answer comes easily, if I’m laughing with friends, its answered through interactions 

An inviting crowd with an even more inviting patch of grass to sit on making class seem like some abstract concept 

I have class in 2 minutes but when I look back on my time in college this is what I want to remember 

Sorry Professor Caldwell but today I decided to soak it all in because one day I won’t be here Although I love learning and your lectures are so interesting, the sun is shining, the hack is sacking, and the jokes are flowing 

I never have to take notes here or worry about an exam being thrown my way Because of this, the comforting environment has pulled me in once more and I’ll be sure to make up the missed work

On this hill I surrender my time to existing and existing alone 

If a conversation starts it will very likely be a deep one, and if it's with a stranger, they will very likely be your friend by the end of it 

I fear there won’t be another grass hill I can decompress on after I graduate So even though I love my classes, the memories I’ve made here have made my college experience whole 

I know I said I’d make up the work last week this week, but the pond is here now so I’ll make it up soon enough 

Even though I carry a strong sense of guilt and shame for missing so many classes, I’ll always smile when I look back at what I did instead

- Michael Chavez