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Ah, yesterday! How I
loved long treks
to the mountain top, to city centers,
around vast pools of imagination.
Everything seemed possible to me.
(except the loss of democracy).
Today, I sit and contemplate the past,
and walk from the back door to the front door
of a small retirement community.
I write poems soaked with hope and history,
and carry signs someone else has written
to the busy edge of our property.
They say “Honk if you love democracy.”
Tomorrow, downsizing for nursing care
I’ll need someone to push my wheelchair,
or stay home with a window view and
memories and dreams to fill out the land—
one finally restored to sanity
yet still building trust in democracy.
For Mary's prompt "Today, Tomorrow, and Yesterday" at What's Going On?
Ah, your first stanza is wonderfully nostalgic - the 'good old days.' And the second stanza is so contemplative. Your poems are gems, and I'm glad you have time / inspiration to write them. And in the third stanza, it is good to have those memories and dreams....and I hope that further downsizing does not come too soon! I enjoyed the honest way you wrote to this prompt!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for doing three stanzas only! I appreciate that.
DeleteI love your yesterday, and am pleased you have such a lovely community around you today. Our thoughts do turn to whatever comes next, dont they, as our bodies start to complain after working so hard for so long. What I love best in your poem is the thought of you, with your sign, by the side of the road - still an activist!
ReplyDeleteI love how the word 'democracy' plays a key role in the poem where one also gets a glimpse of the speaker, full of love and trust and faith in humanity and playing her part to stay connected with all. My favorite lines :
ReplyDelete"or stay home with a window view and
memories and dreams to fill out the land—"
The arc of life is neither smooth nor fair. The downward curve especially is depressingly steep.
ReplyDeleteI love the vast pools of the imagination - they will carry us through to our tomorrows I hope - Jae
ReplyDeleteWe must continue to believe and dream of retaining democracy it is essential to our way of life.
ReplyDeleteI write poems soaked with hope and history - keep writing them it matters
Heartening to know you will never give up on democracy....Rall
ReplyDeleteLove the first stanza, but life changes happen. Keep writing your poems soaked with hope and history.
ReplyDeleteThey are needed.