In honour of possibly the most loved tree in Sydney and scholars everywhere who worked for their higher degrees and never besmirched whole academic disciplines:
The old jacaranda has died.
It witnessed the senate decide
to give Howard, John
a PhD (Hon)
and died from the wound to its pride.
Click on the image if you need an explanation.
Me fail? I fly! 
Lovely, Jonathan! Libby
LikeLike
Thanks Libby
LikeLike
I was there – in the Quadrangle – just two months ago – heading into the Nicholson Museum – admiring the jacaranda tree’s sinewy-fragile boughs. Ancient trees in Japan would have strategically-placed supports to hold up long branches – against the weight of snow or of wild winds. This tree seemed to have no such need – but I think Jonathan that you have uncovered the reason for “our” tree to topple over. Elegy-by-limerick – this one ought to be inscribed on a plaque and put at this place when the tree is replaced by a cutting taken from it in 2014.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jim. There have been many heartfelt laments on facebook and elsewhere in the last couple of days.
LikeLike
Well done Jonathan … a sad thing but a great limerick.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Sue. My sons, who didn’t go to Sydney University, were completely bemused by all the fuss. ‘What’s that thing about John Howard and some dead tree?’ Sigh!
LikeLike
Haha… I didn’t go there either…I was seeking something new in educational thinking so chose Macquarie but we all knew Sydney’s Campus!
LikeLiked by 1 person