The lessons we learned here br (fumbling with our lunchbags, br handkerchiefs br & secret cheeks of bubblegum) br br were graver than any br in the schoolroom: br the dangers of a life br frozen into poses. br br Trilobites in their br petrified ghettos, br lumbering dinosaurs br who'd outsized themselves br br told how nature was br an endless morality play br in which the cockroach br (& all such beadyeyed br br exemplars of adjustment) br might well recite the epilogue. br No one was safe br but stagnation was br br the surest suicide. br To mankind's Hamlet, br what six-legged creature would play br Fortinbras? It made you scratch br br your head & think br for about two minutes. br Going out, I remember br how we stopped to look at br Teddy Roosevelt, br (Soldier, Statesman, Naturalist, br Hunter, Historian, br et cetera, et cetera). br br His bronze bulk (four times life size) br bestrode Central Park West br like a colossus. br His monumental horse br br snorted towards the park. br Oh, we were full of Evolution & its lessons br When (the girls giggling madly, br br the boys blushing) we peeked br between those huge legs to see br those awe-inspiring br Brobdingnagian balls.