The Last Poem

A letter to the future

The last poem

we feasted without thought

took without foresight

lived for the day!

 

then, around the world

the generators went silent,  

lights flickered and went out

our screens went blank

cars, trains and planes

rusting monuments to our folly

but, for once

we could hear the wind

wonder at the Milky Way

 

winter crept in like a wolf

we sat, burning books

shivering in the dark

our stories and poems

now dreams from the past

 

years later I found

a single dusty sheet of paper

puzzled over a pencil stub

 

tentatively I made a mark upon the page

then slowly, laboriously

formed childish letters

remembered from long dead screens

until the letters formed words,

the words became sentences

advice to the future

then I stopped
thought long upon the words
until they fell lame
dumb stones through my grasp

I scored them out and wrote

To my future brothers and sisters 
we really fucked up!
learn from our mistakes
be one with the earth!

 

Reviews

[barleygirl]

I love everything you're saying here, I think these things all the time, & I like the way you always do what you do with much imagination & unique approach. I'm crazy about the whole idea of losing electricity & electronics, leaving us to fend without conveniences, only to discover the simple joys that people had stopped appreciating (love this part):
"winter crept in like a wolf
we sat, burning books
shivering in the dark
our stories and poems
now dreams from the past"

At the end, the letter part (in bold) wasn't nearly as imaginative & original as the rest . . . actually pretty lame compared to the monumental lessons that could be conveyed about our centuries of folly. But then again, maybe simple basics are appropriate here, since it's impossible to really get our arms around the shortsighted way we squandered Mother Earth & her treasures. Anything we say at this point, about our selfish greed, could never be sufficient! *sigh!* (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[alanwgraham]

Thanks for your thoughts about this Margie. You are spot on with your comments on the final section and i think you've chosen the right word for it. I really wasn't too happy with it myself and I'll hope for some inspiration and make another attempt. It's great to see that in WC we are very aware of what's going on.
Regards, Alan

[barleygirl]

This ending is so much more authentic! I love it! Sometimes it's better to admit that we're too lame to do or say what is needed anymore! This ending really kicks a*s now! *smile* Fondly, Margie

[Beccy]

If we continue on our current path, then it may well be that sometime in the future a new species will shake its collective head in wonder at our stupidity.

'How could these long gone, almost forgotten beings create such beauty and such chaos at the same time,' they will ponder. 'Ah well, we shall learn the lesson and will profit well from it.'

That is my hope, because for sure we are heading for the edge of the cliff at an increasingly headlong pace. Such a shame really when you look at this beautiful planet we have been gifted.

Beccy.

[KCthelastboyscout]

You might be too late my friend but I always believe in hope.great message to read concerning man's own self destruction.your words affected me greatly

[alanwgraham]

Thank for your review. Perhaps you will be the last boy scout!
Regards
Alan

[Tate Morgan]

a lesson that sadly humans I’ll never heed. I’m afraid we will not survive our infancy. Only the rich will survive preserving our worst traights

[alanwgraham]

Thanks Tate. I was a bit worried this might be a bit preachy but you just have to put it out and see what others think.
Regards.
Alan

[Ken Simm.]

Strong and well formed. There are many messages here beyond the obvious and that it what I enjoy about this poem.

[alanwgraham]

Many thanks ken. We all need to think hard about these things. By the way just back from a great day on Orkney. More inspiration!
Cheers.
Alan

[Lorry]

Yep. One day we will truly see the mess we have left our kids and future generations.
Really liked the reemergence of writing in your piece. Left me wondering what else will have to be learnt again.
Hope i'm not around the day all those sulky teens realise the internet isn't down, but off...they won't know what to do with themselves :)

[alanwgraham]

Thanks lorry. This is really a first draft but I've got the message I wanted. Cheers
Alan