Pathways of the NSFNET - a poem

[skh () merit edu]

Hi all:

Late last night upon the last hours of NSFNET,
I wrote something in response to Sean Doran's poem.
By request of a few friends, I am submitting it
to NANOG list for thought.  I hope you enjoy it.


 Pathways of the NSFNET (1988-1995) 

 All pathways lead but inward, yet ever outward.
 All travels begin, and run far only to end at the beginning.
 Dreams which lead us to learn to build,
 Lead us onward only to find out 
 How little we truly understand our pathways
 which go ever onward in spite of us; 
 For time burns all but truth away.
 
 Networks begun grow toward success.
 If they succeed, they often transform beyond us.
 Like children who grow up and beyond us
 and lead us further to understand who we are.


 (A poem for the end of the NSFNET era from
  a nsfnet nerd.)
 
 Blessings and best wishes for the Next 
 Generation Internet,
 
 Sue Hares


Sean's poem that inspired me 
> All nature is but art unknown to thee;
> All chance, direction which thou canst not see;
> All discord, harmony not understood;
> All partial evil, universal good;
> And, spite of pride, in erring reason's spite,
> One truth is clear, "Whatever IS, is RIGHT."  [some future RFC]
>
>       Sean.
>
> ------- End of Forwarded Message