Chaucer's Spring

   Thoughts of spring! There are almost no memories of the English class I took freshman year of college. Except, now that I write this, some scenes do suddenly come flowing back. I remember that I was too unconventional then to wear a wristwatch, so most days I had a pendant watch on a necklace to help me get to classes and the bus stop on time; and I had gotten glasses after high school graduation, but I was always taking them off – so there is a memory of me being very gawky walking to and from English class trying to keep track of my glasses and watching the time while carrying my books and paper and more than one pen because I took so many notes I used up a pen a week! Such a goof!

     In English, we moved our desks into a circle, and class was mostly discussion about the books we were reading. I never participated – just like in high school – I was afraid to speak up in fear of interrupting someone else – and I was terrified that I had nothing of value to add to the conversation anyway and I might make everyone aware of how literal and vacuous I was. So my head was always bent over my notes and my hand was constantly writing – hoping my silence would not be noticed.

      Instead of thinking independently about what I was reading and what the class was discussing, all my efforts went toward trying to figure out what the teacher wanted on exams so I could give him just that and get a good grade. Total goof!

     So it is not the teacher's fault I came away from the class with almost nothing – the blame is totally mine.

     But there was one nugget I did retain from class. Ever since that semester, when someone mentions spring, I immediately think of that English class in Old Main. We were doing Chaucer and the Canterbury Tales. The professor began with the prologue – it was about spring – imagery about romance, well more than romance, out and out lust – and the line I always remember is the one about the birds lying in their nests at night with their eyes wide open – anticipating, eager, each ready for a mate to come along. I still get a bit of a thrill inside when someone mentions spring, and my thoughts go straightaway to those birds with their eyes wide open – perhaps they remind me of a silly, gawky, giddily excited freshman girl I used to know.

80 20150321 Chaucer's Spring