BOAM Nominee #8: University of Indianapolis

INTRO:
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On March 3, 2018, I will release The Best of Alma Mater, and I will need some help in selecting the crème de la crème. The best way you can assist in doing so would be to purchase each of the four Alma Mater volumes – Midwest, Northeast, West, and South, each docked at $0.99 and free for Kindle Unlimited Subscribers. Because the more pieces from the series you read, the more qualified you are to state whether or not a piece belongs in the “Best of.”

There were a total of 400 poems in the Alma Mater series, 100 from each volume: The Midwest, Northeast, West, and South. As it is now, the list sits at roughly 120 poems that will appear in the “Best of.” Ideally, I would like to cut it down to 100. So feel free to provide feedback either in the comments or, preferably, through my contact link, to let me know why a piece should be left out….or if you think a piece is a must-add, those comments are especially welcome. For the sake of selecting the best piece possible for this collection, if there is any piece that you feel could be omitted, please do not be afraid to add your feedback and it will be considered constructive criticism for the betterment of the piece. I am trying to put together the best representation of the series possible, so I do not mind being told that I could do without a piece either here in the comments through in the “Contact Author” page. On the flip side, when I say a piece is currently not planned to be included, also feel free to tell me that I’m crazy and that it’s a must include.
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Today, I will be sharing a few pieces. The first is another piece that currently is not scheduled to make the cut, but it provides something unique to the series and thus there is a chance that it will be added to the “Best of” collection. I wanted to include a midnight breakfast piece., which is an interesting college tradition that this university particularly does well. I think it captures well part of the feels included in the college experience and if this piece does make it to the BOAM collection, it would be more because of the feeling it captures and emulates, more than anything else. I present to you, The University of Indianapolis.

*University of Indianapolis*

It’s been another long night at UIndy. Everyone’s studying for the exams—complete with writing cramps,
Frappuccino solitude,
And peace between half-functioning roommates.
Stand up, stretch your legs…
Break the silence with a much-needed break…
It’s Midnight,
Let’s go get some Breakfast.

Midnight Breakfast in Schwitzer is where UIndy races
in preparation to meet the Finals head-on.
Residents from Roberts, Cravens, Warren, Crowe…
Everyone on and even off campus scramble to the Center to get some eggs,
sausage links, hash browns, donuts, and yes,
More coffee, Professor.
This is the rest stop where Greyhounds refuel.

Students are wearing hoodies, sweats,
Scarlet & Gray Scarves,
Some lay on the carpet aside the walking aisles,
Some sit with friends at a table,
Others sit Indian Style.
It is the calm of the night with late-night company,
Exhausted minds—and yet no one is tired,
Greyhounds could bark & bite it up right here forever,
Even after the moon and stars have expired.
There are pages and books on the floor & blankets,
There’s also some dancing & plenty of laughter,
This is a place where clamor and calm sit together,
To help students prepare for the day after.

There’s something special about studying with close friends
Under the moonlight,
That makes performance anxiety
Feel alright.
Greyhounds don’t need to go to sleep—
They give it a rest;
So their minds can stay up
for the grinds
of the test.

Preview and then purchase the newly released Alma Mater Vol. 4 below for only $0.99 or for free with Kindle Unlimited along with the other three volumes. And feel free to comment or email me using the “Contact Author” page on this site to assist in selecting the pieces for the Best of Alma Mater series released March 3, 2018.