If you want to see your tomorrows
Just take a good look at your past
You’ll find the answers in yesterday’s news
Among all the deeds that you’ve cast.
If you’ve tried very hard to be honest
And you’ve given truth half a chance
If you’ve spoken well of your neighbors
Then relax, now is your time to dance.
But if you’ve wallowed in greed and in hatred
And you’ve caused even one person pain
If you’ve lied and cheated and even repeated
Chances are you’ll do it again.
Life is not about being perfect
Or simply avoiding a long list of sins
It’s about improving in all that we do
And dealing with our demons within.
There’s no secret passage way to heaven
It’s not lined with treasures and rules
It’s surely paved with a lot of mistakes
From the brave as well as the fools.
If you want to change your tomorrows
Then look at yourself in the mirror
And forgive that person for the wrongs that you see
Then face the world without rancor or fear.
And greet everyone that you meet today
In the way you would like to be greeted
And treat them as if they know something you don’t
Like the moment your life is completed.
Put all that you own on the table
Then turn and just walk away
And trust in that voice that speaks truth to you
And follow it to the end of the day.
Great verse Edward. I am always a sucker for these types of messages. I just love lessons learned. This piece was fun to read and serious at the same time. Two elements that can be difficult to mingle but you mastered it here. Good one my poet friend.
Being someone that throughout life has habitually broken the rules on a regular basis, this could quite easily been written as a warning to me.
However, they do say, old habits die-hard.
Therefore, with that in mind, I considered how I would have written the first stanza whereof it applied solely to me.
This is how it goes.
If you want to see your tomorrows
just take a good look at your past.
You’ll find the answer in your sorrows
and all such sins that you’ve amassed.
Wow. I do not even want to tell you how much this has made me stop and think about something I was about to do. May not have solved my dilemma, but will make me think even more before I make a move. Very timely and relevant.
L
Reflections and Nature Watercolors is a collection of Margaret's spontaneous positive thoughts in celebrating and reflecting on life and her nature watercolors.
Note: Since my husband's cancer surgery 4/25/05, this book content has been integrated into the public speaking content for audiences interested in a sassy approach to personal and/or community awareness events. Another chapbook on intimate love poet
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dan
Being someone that throughout life has habitually broken the rules on a regular basis, this could quite easily been written as a warning to me.
However, they do say, old habits die-hard.
Therefore, with that in mind, I considered how I would have written the first stanza whereof it applied solely to me.
This is how it goes.
If you want to see your tomorrows
just take a good look at your past.
You’ll find the answer in your sorrows
and all such sins that you’ve amassed.
Best regards
Mor.
On the other hand, I still like what the wise old man James Coburn said in Waterhole #3, “Do it unto others before they do it on to you.” ;-)
Ron
L