Changing of The Guard

There was an old man
A longtime professor of words
One Christmas after fifty years or so
The dean called him and said that he had to go
Saddened and weary, he toddled on home
Wondering if he done anything worthwhile
Thinking he hadn't, he pulled out a gun
But before he could shoot
He heard the school bell ring
So he toddled on over and to his dismay
He saw nothing and started to leave
When before him, materialized a group
Of his former students, who came to thank him
For his years of great teaching and service
Each one standing and of telling what they had
Learned from this lonely professor
His heart was melting, tears were in his eyes
Then more to his surprise, they all faded away
Save one, Archie Beechcroft stayed behind
He explained that they all died with his teachings
On their lips and more importantly on their hearts
They had come back to say thank you and goodbye
To stop him from making a grave mistake
Then Archie too faded away
The professor forgot about the gun
And his new life had begun at age ninety one