Rhyming is tough, some words just don’t work
Oppenheimer? Seriously? That drove us berserk.

But we like this tradition, a poem looking back
We hope you enjoy it, there’s a lot to unpack.

The big story of course is a new prez for BU
Welcome, Melissa Gilliam, from Ohio State U!

From Buckeye to Terrier, your transition will be fine
Our University is poised to take off and shine.

Students will welcome you and show you around
As you learned at Harvard, Boston’s just a small town.

And thanks to Ken Freeman, who stepped in to lead
As interim president he makes us proud indeed.

We said goodbye to Bob Brown, a president to cheer
Decisive, empathic, and always sincere.

Comm Ave is lively and fun, but keep a sharp eye
As scooters, cars, and buses go whizzing on by!

Why can’t things improve, in Boston and the nation
When it comes to mass transit and regional transportation?

The Green Line is running—only sometimes, it’s true
The next trolley could arrive in 8 minutes, 14—or 22.

The B branch takes you to Fenway—to the Red Sox and more
But it doesn’t go to Foxboro—where are the Pats of yore?

BU’s Barbenheimer enjoyed a summer of great fun,
Thanks to Oppenheimer and Barbie, both with good runs.

A few tickets were sold when Taylor Swift went on tour
Ticketmaster’s troubles couldn’t lessen Swifties’ roar.

A BU prof’s bionic pancreas came on the scene
A breakthrough for diabetes is what that means.

Fallou Ngom’s story is one of lost words
The prof discovered a language billions hadn’t heard.

Artificial intelligence is some very scary tech
Let’s hope it’s for the better, and not a train wreck.

Alum Drew Weissman’s research on mRNA proved wise
Congrats to him and his partner for their Nobel Prize.

And for Lucy Hutyra let’s all give a chant
Her climate research won a MacArthur “Genius” grant.

Welcome to Robert Lowe, BU’s new police chief
We know our safety’s in good hands—and that’s a relief.

Men’s hockey and soccer soared to great heights
A final four and a title—that’s showing your might!

Women’s tennis, golf, and softball scored titles, too
A banner year for athletics is no surprise at BU.

Farewell to Aram Chobanian, who led through tough years
His presidency was brief, but he paved new frontiers.

Hollywood strikes shut down cinema and TV
And BU alums spoke out, standing strong in unity.

Commencement stood out, with drama and noise
But Ketanji Brown Jackson stood out with her poise.

Film actor and alum Hong Chau had quite a year
Three movies, an Oscar nomination—where next will she appear?

There were sad stories, to be sure, another year of guns
Once again the AR-15 took away daughters and sons.

Ukraine and Israel seem wars that won’t mend
We’re praying for peace, which would be a godsend.

The wildfires in Hawaii were devastating to see
People jumping in the water, nowhere left to flee.

Despite talk of soaring prices across the nation
A soft landing seems likely, rather than rising inflation.

Politics would be funny, if it wasn’t so sad
If it’s Biden vs Trump, will voters be mad?

DeSantis had his shot or is Haley the real deal?
Do Republicans have a candidate to help our country heal?

After so many votes for a new House speaker
The GOP leadership could not look much weaker

And then there’s George Santos, ex-congressman from New York
Who used some campaign funds in Vegas and some for face work.

Democrats can’t brag. They don’t know what to do
Their incumbent is old. But would they choose someone new?

A brawl almost broke out on the US Senate floor
Bernie Sanders shouted, Stop! I can’t take it anymore!

And the Supreme Court faced heat, so it passed an ethics code
Too bad it’s as toothless as a hundred-year-old toad.

Expect 2024 to bring more of the same
Pop culture, politics and climate, fortune and fame.

But let’s hope for change, and a fresh start
With less violence and hate, more love and more heart.