GERRY

Glory to Governor Geer
A worker in words without peer

He writes and he edits —
But scroll through the credits —

His name will never appear

Glory to Governor Gerry
A writer of competence? Very!

But where is the byline?
The “Look, Ma! It’s my line!”

The answer is nowhere and nary

Gerry’s a back-office operator
A let’s-make-it-happen cooperator

With tons on his plate —
And no project can wait —

He’s a pedal-to-the-metal-non-stoperator

In one place his name may be spied:
Musical programs . . . inside

A Chamber Singer founder
Twice-yearly resounder —

His baritone won’t be denied

From Harvard he holds a degree —
Mystique you can practically see

A BA from there
Is an MA elsewhere —

If not the full PhD

Early ’70s . . . Cambridge . . . the Square
The right time and place — he was there

With John, Kingsley, Skip
Jamie, Chris — what a trip!

What a royal and rarefied air

For religion he felt an affinity
So at Havard enrolled in Divinity

But Gerry departed
The program he’d started —

It had little to say of infinity

Seven days a week and each night
He’s fighting the great and good fight

His weapon of choice?
People, rejoice —

It’s the pen — for Gerry can write

The pen is mightier than the sword
With pen in hand, Gerry is lord

He wields it with skill
And he aims to fulfill —

At a price that we all can afford

He writes every possible thing
Political platforms with zing

Trustees reports
That capture the forts

And lyrics — he’ll write and then sing

He’s boosted his minute monthly checks
By editing medical texts

Ask about aneurisms —
Take note of his mannerisms —

And wonder what Geer will do next

A knower of all higher states
A teacher, he’s one of the greats

This gentleman and scholar
Is worth every dollar —

And what a glorious future awaits

Wait — have I mentioned his laugh?
First prize of the faculty and staff

From out of this boy
Come billows of joy —

Each laugh is a laugh-and-a-half

He of gold voice, silver tongue
Wise yet eternally young

Capacious, commodious
Mellifluous, melodious . . .

May his plentiful praises be SUNG

With a face like the sun and the moon
He’s beaming — and ready to croon

He never says no
He’s ever aglow

He’s beatific . . . he’s bright . . . he a boon

Unflappable — he cannot be flapped
In the pool, he can’t be outlapped

No prisoner of prudence,
He showed to the students

He simply will not be outrapped

He’s the Harvard-trained Pride of the Prairie
On life’s ice cream sundae . . . the cherry

Ever light, ever airy
Never cross or contrary

He’s a genius . . . a giant . . . he’s Gerry

So competent . . . capable . . . clear
A rishi of constant good cheer

Great be your fame —
And this we proclaim:

We thrilled we all got into . . . Geer

Happy birthday, Gerry!

MARCH 6, 2010