Dissertation Desperation: Poetic Ramblings

Back in 2001, there were several procrastinating students working on our BCom Honours dissertations. To relieve some of our tension, we began to send each other emails with snippets of poetry about the dissertation writing process. Between myself, Geoff and Smrithi (aka Smooch), we ended up with 38 separate poems, mostly single-verse limericks, but some longer and other formats.

After the ordeal was behind us, I collected these up into a collection that I called "Dissertation Desperation: Poetic Ramblings of Students with a Deadline". Here are some examples:

The D word is bad don't you know?
panic sets in when you're slow
if you spend your time well
then you won't need to dwell
on whether you mark will be low (heh heh)
-- Geoff (15th Nov)

I feel I have progress at last
14 thousand words have now passed
I'm sure feeling studious
but the quality's dubious
I fear its a mere bunch of ass
-- Sarah (20th Nov)

I'm on my own, all alone
others playing in the sun
wanna stop, but dare not
I just wanna get this done

time extension, very tempting
some have taken up the chance
tension soaring, but so boring
another week just to enhance?

I'm on track, shouldn't crack
this diss should be done on time
counting days, I'm amazed
thirteen more and freedom's mine
-- Sarah (24th Nov)

If you are interested in more of our poetic brilliance, you can download the full collection (PDF 56Kb).