locked in a glass case she sits

casting her halo over those who have won her

sparkling, brilliant but

               DO NOT TOUCH

        your fingers are filthy

and you will inevitably drop her

    dent her

crack her

pathetic attempts to polish her

     shining the surface

          til a perfect reflection of you appears

another example of your excellence

     invite the savages to salivate

          over their obvious short-comings

dress her up and accessorize

    flaunt her for friends

        hang her on your wall

                         CRUCIFIED

      for your colleagues

isn’t she lovely

isn’t she perfect

sparkling, brilliant but

               DO NOT TOUCH

        your fingers are filthy

and she will inevitably

    get me

my Ph.D.