Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
Yesterday's children roam freeeverywhere in their neighborhood,
play outside after dark, walk by
themselves to school, bike with
friends to neighborhood parks.
They trick or treat alone for blocks.
do not fear pinned or poisoned candy.
They can wander into the woods,
pretend it's Sherwood Forest
and play for hours. They meet friends
at the mall or a movie or to bowl.
No mothers worriy.
Today's children roam within parents'
view, come inside when it is dark.
They travel to school by car or bus
or walk accompanied by parent.
Mothers take children to parks,
sit on benches to watch them play.
They trick or treat on their street,
as their parents walk along. They
play in their backyard, fantasize the
few trees as Sherwood Forest.
Friends play at one house or the other
Still mothers worry.
Tomorrow's children roam their home,
whether it is day or night. They travel
to school by computer. Parents watch
their children play video games at home
and assorted Halloween candy is now
prebagged and available at all stores.
They look at their backyard through
burglar-proof windows, see Sherwood
Forest on their iPad. They play
interactive games with friends via
computer, see all movies via Netflix.
No mothers worry.
For my prompt at What's Going On: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
"They look at their backyard through
ReplyDeleteburglar-proof windows, see Sherwood
Forest on their iPad"
An intense poem! To get back to no mothers worrying, we'd have to move to a wholly interior world with only a computer interface. And I agree with you. I like how your details follow through from one stanza to the next. Especially fond of the Sherwood Forest pretend game.
Wow, that seems to be where we are headed. Many are already there. Well done, Mary. My childhood and my children's childhoods were so free and felt so safe in comparison.
ReplyDeleteThis poem is eerie and fraught with sad truth. Different realities of "Sherwood Forest" and life as a whole absolutely stun us. Such a good and thought provoking poem Mary!
ReplyDeleteOh dear. That is not a good trajectory. Sadly it is all too true.
ReplyDeleteA sad reflection of our times wonderfully expressed - Jae
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, it hurts to see the negative effects of our current societal norms and its trajectory on children most of all. You are so right here, Mary, in your perfectly outlined and polished "map" of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteTime certainly has redefined freedom for children growing up. I fear the electronic world has taken over and children don't have the opportunity to run in the forest. A sadness settles in for what is ahead.
ReplyDeleteThe tech world leaves a lot to worry about...very dangerous!....Rall
ReplyDeleteThe changes are sad, with much less freedom, and time to be a child.
ReplyDelete