(lines selected, cut, and arranged from the cut-ups of HUM 1—T, class of UPLB)

the first day of school
the outline of a skeleton

was looking into your eyes
I’m waiting, this is true

I’m not simply aging
organisms have to adapt to the
objects you wish to manipulate
found a few paper-covered books

us to see beyond reality
is a limited time offer
to see its practical value
sacrifice his defensive competence

didn’t notice all the roses
handled and referred to gingerly

air, musty for having been long
time in your own health
arms to look like wings

impatience has been around for
you going longer and stronger
egos have small ears
you have to say today
you’ll always have my shoulders

interest in the universe alive
when did the rain become
the thirst for immediate results

every teardrop is a waterfall
I’m waiting, this is true

“Before they’re allowed to graduate” was written by extracting lines from my students’ cut-ups and organizing them in terms of the senses, the Faustian quest for knowledge. The composition was guided by Kafka’s insight of impatience as the original sin.