Antioch College Professor Emeritus Al Denman gave this invocation at the Commencement ceremonies on April 26, 2008 in Kelly Hall in the Main Building (Antioch Hall) of Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio

Special thanks for Steve Bognar for providing this video for distribution to the Antioch community.

The Text of this speech follows:

ANTIOCH COLLEGE INVOCATION
Al Denman, 4-26-08

We wait
and wait
and while we wait
we celebrate

In our waiting
we are not alone.

Can you hear these voices?

Tecumseh
Chief of the Shawnee Nation:
Your home
this very ground
upon which
this building rests
was our forest home
for hundreds
of generations.

We know
how it will hurt
if you have to leave.

Children in Darfur
refugee camps:
Mother
can we ever
go back home?

Nor are we alone
celebrating while waiting.

Mary Mann:
HORACE OUR HOUSE
STILL NOT FINISHED STOP
YEARS IN DORM MUST STOP
SPRING BRINGS DELIRIUM
PLANTED TREES STOP
HURRY HOME
WILL CELEBRATE
WITH LOVE NON STOP
MARY

Mary’s trees:
Have you heard our chorus?
We give voice to rain and wind
home and stage for birds.

Today
we belong to
a vast fellowship
of those who
bear the mark
of waiting
for the unknown.

Yet while we wait
we celebrate.
And it is surely
an auspicious omen
that for this occasion
our Jimmy
has come home.

As you leave this hall
pause
listen
to the trees
and the birds
join their chorus
sing your song
let the chorus swell.

NB:

“Non Stop Antioch” is the proposed interim movement, in case the AU trustees say tomorrow, “We couldn’t reach agreement; it’s over for Antioch College.

“Jimmy” was a beloved Dean of Students who was fired last year, invited by students to be their graduation speaker.

 

 Al Denman - Antioch College Commencement 2008 Invocation - Quicktime: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download