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Alumni Blog January 2022

Below is a short poem that I wrote while reminiscing about my days at old Calvert Hall.  I'm quite sure Brother Daniel, my old English teacher, would not consider it a literary masterpiece and would also probably have something to say about the grammar and syntax.  This is just part of the sentimental journey I have been taking when recalling my bygone days at The Hall.  I thought that some of the old timers in the Alumni Association might feel the same way and enjoy reading it.
The four years that I spent at Calvert Hall were undoubtedly some of the best years of my life.  Even as a class clown and record holder in the detention department, I realized that I was part of something special.  The bonds that I formed sixty years ago are just as strong today as they were back then.  My only regret is that I cannot go back and thank the dedicated Brothers for the outstanding job they accomplished!  Thank you for listening, and thanks for the great job Calvert Hall is doing!

OLD CALVERT HALL

A HANDSOME STONE BUILDING STOOD TALL AND NEAT,
ANCHORED ON THE CORNER OF CATHEDRAL AND MULBERRY STREET.

HUGE CRANITE BLOCKS CARVED WITH MALLET AND MAUL,
AN IMPRESSIVE BUILDING KNOWN AS CALVERT HALL.

AN INSTITUTION ARTFULLY DESIGNED TO TEACH,
A NOBLE GOAL IT NEVER FAILED TO REACH.

FOR SEVEN DECADES IT HELPED THE CITY OF BALTIMORE GROW,
THROUGH SUMMER HEAT AND COLD WINTER SNOW.

LONG AGO I WALKED THAT BUILDINGS VENERABLE HALLS,
WHERE OLD WOODEN LOCKERS LINED THE WALLS.


SOUNDS OF LAUGHTER, SCIENCE AND MACBETH WOULD RING,
ALONG WITH THE SCHOOL CHIOR WARMING UP TO SING.

AS A YOUNG MAN, LESS A SCHOLAR AND MORE THE FOOL,
I GREW TO LEARN THE TRUE MEANING OF THE GOLDEN RULE.

STRONG BONDS, CULTURE, SPORTS AND SOLID TRADITION,
ALL THE GOUNDATION TO START OUR LIFES MISSION.

BITTERSWEET OUR GRADUATION AS WE MARCHED THROUGHT HE DOORS,
THE LAST CLASS TO EVER WALK THOSE WELL WORN FLOORS.

LONG GONE THE BUILDING, THE BROTHERS AND SO MANY FRIENDS WE KNEW,
LIKE LEAVES IN THE WIND THROUGH HISTORY THEY FLEW.

ONLY MEMORIES NOW THAT A FEW OLD TIMERS HOLD,
SOON TO DISAPPEAR AS THE YEARS UNFOLD. 

TIME IS NOW MOVING ME CLOSER TO SAINT PETERS PROVERBIAL GATE,
WHRE HE STANDS TO DETERMINE MY ETERNAL FATE.

IF HE SHOULE ASK WHAT OF MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS I VALUE MOST OF ALL,
PROUDLY I WILL TELL MIN THAT I GRADUATED FROM THE OLD CALVERT HALL.

JOHN INTLEKOPER
CLASS OF 1960


John sent this to the Alumni Office in 2020, sadly he passed away on December 22, 2021.  
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