In trolling my poetry archives, I came across this poem titled Yesterday and Tomorrow, which I wrote in about 1985 when I was leading the busy life of a lady executive. How strange to read it now, and see how prophetic it really was. It's like my 51 year old self talking to my now 86 year old self! I have now reached the time to savour!
Submitted to Poets & Storytellers United, Writers' Pantry 39, September 26, 2020
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As I speed along the freeway
In the usual morning race
My thoughts turn back to other times
When life had a slower pace
When there was time for dreaming
And wriggling our toes in the mud
And close examination
Of each leaf and flower and bud.
For listening to autumn breezes
As they rustled through fields of grain
And for smelling the wondrous fresh bouquet
Of a late spring evening rain
For idling under a shade tree
When no one knew where I was
And studying the intricate mechanics
Of what makes bumblebees buzz.
For listening to trills of songbirds
As they flit from tree to tree
While I looked for four-leaf clovers
In grass like a great green sea.
It seems now my days are so busy
These pleasures are things of the past
I try to find time for dreaming
But life races by too fast
I think of the time when I’m older,
With time on my hands again.
How I’ll treasure those special moments
Much moreso than I did then.
For God in his infinite wisdom
Has bestowed a very great favor
What in youth we take for granted
In old age we have time to savour.
Wonderful! I love your conclusion in particular. Yes, we are blessed, who make it this far.
ReplyDeleteYes, in old age we do have time to savour; but it is still not quite enough!
ReplyDeleteThanks for noticing the spelling mistake on my post Bev.
DeleteYour poem flows as effortlessly as memory
ReplyDeleteYour poem touched a chord in me, Bev, and took me back to 1985, when I was a working single mum, also busy, longing to dream and wriggle my toes in the mud. It was another seven years before I left London for the North Norfolk coast, rural life and nature, and didn’t look back. There is so much wisdom in your final lines.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading your poem!
ReplyDeleteOnce a while i too dig out some old journals, have a good read (or a laugh). It's also a record of how our writing has evolved or changed.
I echo Robin. There is not enough time to savour. :)
Funny how we're like kids again! We got what we asked for in spades!
ReplyDeleteLuv tge time travel of thoughts in this one
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday
Thanks for dropping by my sumie Sunday today, Bev
Muchđź’“love
Oh, this is breathtaking. It makes a virtue of stillness and attention more profound by its rediscovery.
ReplyDeleteEven in your rushed days you contemplated serenity. Those of us who have years on us so appreciate the slower quieter times.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy savoring each moment! LOL, it's a good reminder for me to give myself a little time off too.
ReplyDeleteNicely done. How cool that you have been writing poetry for so long; to go back and read it is like time-travel!
ReplyDeleteA blessing to have dreams come true and the gift of poetry in your fingers.
ReplyDeleteYou know, Bev, I haven't read my early stuff in a long time. Your poem has inspired me to give it a go. Perhaps, I will get lucky and find some ink that hints towards the taste of my own age of savoring.
ReplyDeleteI hope you do, Magaly. This was so strange to read my words of 35 years ago, remember how hectic my life was then, and see that I actually foresaw a time when there would be time again for those leisurely moments. Makes it seem all the sweeter now!
DeleteProphesy come true. I also remember those executive days and wonder how I had the stamina to do it. But do it we did!!! Thanks so much for the reminder and the reality of today and a bit of creative leisure.
ReplyDeleteIt's a miracle we survived...it is such a joy to leave the tread mill but now I am as busy as I ever was.
ReplyDeleteA lovely poem, rings true of what is happening in our lives. We are so busy that we forget to enjoy the special moments in life. Beautifully penned.
ReplyDelete