Gloomy grammarians in golden gowns

I had to memorize and recite that poem for my professor, the two of us alone in his office, my very first semester. He could tell how debilitatingly nervous I was and let me do it twice. I'm not sure the second time was an improvement, but it was an unexpected show of kindness I won't forget.

I'm not sure I've improved since but the world as a whole is still unexpectedly kind.