Tomorrow and Tomorrow
Turn the clock forward
Look toward tomorrow and tomorrow
First, let the shock set in, the sheer lack of
jetpacks, hoverboards, silver clothing
No Soylent Green, no Big Brother
Rockets long stilled by common sense
Conscience triumphed over nukes
Phallic skyscrapers are no longer the norm
Even in cities densely populated, there is
stargazing; children of the largest towns
know constellations not by book but
by sight, every night
“O Star…”
This is tomorrow
Where land’s expanse is not viewed as
Future Golf Course or Strip Mall
It is now treasured
Allowed to lay fallow for its own sake
Marshes unharshed, not tamed and smothered
by another load of concrete, nor
paved for enslavement to profit seekers
Where liquid groans of dinosaur bones
are songs sung only underground
No longer sucked by pipes and tubes to
lube mechanical mindlessness
Where all walks of conscience from faith to atheism
are neither hammer nor scythe; rather, a
measure of one’s capacity to love
and dwell in peace
Where confessional souls examine their lives
as they turn toward helping and healing
this wounded world
And war is a sorry-ass memory painted hideous
And rightly so
Where is this tomorrow?
In ours dreams, in our hearts
In the minds of children, who say,
“Of course it should be that way”
© 2015 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Many thanks to dverse Poets Pub and TED Fellow Ben Burke, whose mind-blowing “poem from the future” can be heard on the site. He invited all dverse contributors to join him and take a trip to the future, to give our own interpretations of what that might look like. I, who possess a bitter, dystopian view of that coming day, took an ironic turn and went for the hope… hope which dwells in the marrow of my soul, overtaking my sarcasm and cynical worldview. UPDATE: Thanks to folks at dverse for suggesting I relink to their Open Mic after I missed the Linky!
A bow to Robert Frost with a simple phrase that echoes in every corner of my dreams, “O Star…” I hope the future is Lennonesque, best viewed through circular shades, with lots of hand holding and hugs. And with that, as always, I wish you peace. Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
brian miller
yay, so we win…thank goodness the rockets are stilled…and we can see the stars again…i am not so concerned that technology has failed us…and to be judged by ones measure and capacity to love…ha…i like that…i rather like your future…i am a little scared of what we may have to go through to get there…
how have you been amy
its been far too long…thanks for popping in today…smiles.
sharplittlepencil
Yah, I managed to buck the malaise and pessimism of the winter so far to look into “what dreams may come.” In reality, my view is much bleaker, but, hey, anything for a bit of sunshine! Thanks, Brian. Will email you updates. A
claudia
oh def. it should be that way – and i wish it would… what a wonderful vision of the world you painted with your words here…. capacity to love…i wish we had more…
sharplittlepencil
You and me, both, kid, as my mom used to say…
Björn Rudberg (brudberg)
There are so much to love in this poem Amy, you really pinpoint what should be the future… so many small I love with this.. but the detail that captured me most was to see to see the stars without the light pollution (and other pollution I guess).. I think this is how it has to be..
sharplittlepencil
The stars of my childhood. We were out in the country and could see the Milky Way. It’s been too long since I saw a sky that “dense.” Thanks as always for great comment, Bjorn! A
Sabra Bowers
I want to live in your future, Amy. Children able to see stars and actually looking up at night or any time. Peace to you!
Grace
I love your vision of tomorrow Amy ~ To live in peace, nature abounding & treasured ~ I pray for this vision someday ~ Thanks for participating Amy ~ Take care ~
kaykuala h
Rockets long stilled by common sense
Conscience triumphed over nukes
This is classic Amelita,very much what everyone desires. Perfect to bring out the peaceful scene early. Children star-gazing and not cowering in a corner because of bombs dropping incessantly.This is the vision to look forward to! Great lines!
Hank
sharplittlepencil
Bless you for always catching and sharing that vision of peace, Hank. Come the “revolution,” I want you in my trench. We shall sit and read poetry aloud and paint with the rubble mixed with our tears, I fear.
Leovi
Certainly, I like the tenderness and love that follows this poem in search of tomorrow!
Polly
Thoughtful, evocative, rather beautiful – esp the lines:
‘Where all walks of conscience from faith to atheism
are neither hammer nor scythe; rather, a
measure of one’s capacity to love
and dwell in peace’
I like your version of tomorrow.
sharplittlepencil
again, as with Bjorn, Hank, and others, thanks for sharing that optimism. Wish I really believe it would spread worldwide, but I fear…
Sherry Blue Sky
Oh I’m glad you went for the hope, which we so need. Amazing how in our singular hearts each of us wants this future, yet as societies, and global entities, we cannot seem to achieve it.
sharplittlepencil
Let’s put the trees in charge! Or maybe some people with peaceful hearts… like they would ever want to wade into the cesspool of politics!
jae rose
I think a good tomorrow would be going back a little..taking a breath..levelling the earth and just being..not high in the sky..happy in our bare feet in the grass and sun xo
sharplittlepencil
Yes, I agree, Jae. Back to nature, back to essentials. The obsession with HIGH (whether the economic index or space) is overrated.
jae rose
PS i would have liked to have tried a hover board though 😉
ManicDdaily
Hey Amy–a very compelling vision–one feels, unfortunately, that it may be a vision only! Agh. I especially like the play on Macbeth lines in the beginning–it works very well here with the sense of both repetition, but also, as you offer, possible choice. Hope all is well! k.
sharplittlepencil
Thanks, MD. Yes, I love me some Shakespeare, and the phrase seemed apt. Should have credited him… yikes! Amy
ManicDdaily
Ha! K.
Ron.
It can be. I still believe. If we want it. Let’s change our minds.