Clairvoyance

Ten years from now

         the age I print on medical forms

will begin

         with a different number

 

Ten years from now

          the boy who mows my lawn

          will be a man

 with a lawn of his own

 

Ten years from now

            I will hold in my hands

            some piece of technology

            implausible in this moment

 

Ten years from now

            I will lay flowers on a grave

            to honor a loved one

    in perfect health today

 

Ten years from now

            I will be incredulous

            at all that has occurred

            in ten years…

Author's Note

Some things, we just know...

Reviews

[Michael G. Smith]

You've reminded us not to take life for granted.

[Rita L. Sev]

A reminder we all need from time to time... Thanks, Michael!

[Moonie]

I really like the idea behind it. You have painted the picture beautifully. I can feel nostalgia, and a mix of anxiety and fear in the tone. I imagine the protagonist suddenly reflected on the thought, and all of a sudden these vivid ideas came into her/his head. My favourite lines would be
"  I will lay flowers on a grave

            to honor a loved one

    in perfect health today"--this one just sums the idea up. There will be tragedy ten years from now, as there is some tragedy in life today, but perhaps we would find strength to deal with it. That is the only way out, afterall.
Ps the title just takes the cake!! :))

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you so much for your insightful review, Daughter! That title was an afterthought - I was struggling to come up with a title for this, and it popped into my head. :)

[NeiL ArandA]

Foresight or is it coming into terms with our mortality. Its always good to look ahead so we can value our time today. I grew up with no cell phone but now you have a palm size phone with everything on it. Video, camera, GPS, internet, etc. What a major leap of changes and advancements a decade could really make .

[Rita L. Sev]

Exactly. Looking back, looking ahead... so much changes, while so much stays the same... Thanks for reading, Neil.

[Renée]

Ten years from now
this poem will be as relevant, as it is today.
Well Done Rita !

[Rita L. Sev]

And I will be lamenting twenty years ago... :) Thank you, Renee!

[Renée]

lol !! ( :

[Lyn Anderson]

This is smart, true, sad, and ironic, when paired with the title. Well done.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, KL...

[Patrick]

This is very poignant, and the emotions feel so real in this write. Good job

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Patrick!

[Damien Thibodeaux]

How right you are, Rita. This write makes me think of what has changed in the last ten years. Especially technology and mortality. I predict your poem will strike a nerve with a lot of readers.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Damien. That is exactly what prompted this piece - thinking about all that has come to pass in the last decade.

[Sharon Kim]

Some things we know but don't often stop and think about! It's amazing how quickly things change! I must say that the fourth stanza scares me! Great write, Rita!

I like the idea that you could write another version of this poem as a reflection of where you were or how your life was ten years ago and how it's changed to today.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thanks, Sharon. I may just do that in ten years! That fourth stanza is actually the idea that started this train of thought. My father has been gone for 11 years now... and my mother is about to turn 76.

[Sharon Kim]

Sorry about your father. It's scary as our parents get older. My dad's 73 and mom's 70. I'm starting to notice them slowing down. :( They're supposed to be the ones that we can always go to for help and support...

[Rocans]

Yes...there are some constants in the dynamics of life, and us humans are soothsayers with regard to some things. Like the passage of time and what it does to us. Acknowledging that makes us appreciate each and every day. What I always like about your poems Rita is that though they tend to be written in a sort of quirky, non-committal way, they have deeper undertones. I liked this.

[Rita L. Sev]

I certainly hope that we learn to appreciate each day... "Quirky" is just what I aim for, Rocans! ;) Thank you so much!

[Beccy]

At times we all wonder what the future holds. These are beautifully articulated lines that give us a tantalising glimpse.

'Some things we just know.' That is indeed a truth.

Beccy.

[Rita L. Sev]

Yes, some things we wish we didn't know, while others we eagerly anticipate... such is Life. Thank you, Beccy!