Seeing the Future

An occupational hazard

I’m looking to the future

I have my crystal ball

If you have a moment,

I’ll be glad to share it all

 

My seer’s not really crystal

It’s cinder block and slate

When I look closely in it,

I can predict our fate

 

I see Pete, the class’s clown ~

Future comedian, you know it;

And gentle Marykate Louise

Is likely to be a poet

 

Franny Sue will be a great mommy,

So nurturing and sweet,

And pastry chef’s in Patty’s cards;

Her cupcakes can’t be beat

 

Johnny Joe may just become

America’s best president,

While Timmy Bob may spend some time

 A reformatory resident

 

I see emerging doctors,

Lawyers, nurses, teachers too,

The future of my students

Is the fate that we’re all due

 

So before you spout opinions

Of “These darn kids today”,

Give just a little thought

To important roles they’ll play

 

Our country’s got its problems,

And some may want to nix it,

But don’t discount our young ones;

They may be the ones to fix it.

Author's Note

Looking at my students this morning, this came to mind. No, these are not real names. After 23 years, I can make some amazingly accurate predictions!

Reviews

[Saumya]

it was a wonderful experience, reading this...!!!!
i loved the last stnza,
it just touched my heart.......
very well done....!!

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Saumya!

[Baby Ricochet]

This is actually really nice. Great work.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thanks, Mark!

[Frieda P]

It is amazing what their little personalities will tell us at such a young age, I see clearly what you mean, worry about a few of them, hopefully they prove me wrong, nice one Rita!

[Rita L. Sev]

Hmmm, the worry. I dwell on the possibilities, and live in hope. Thanks, Frieda!

[QuietlyCrash]

I adore how you actually see more in your students than just the kids you see 5 times a week. There's something about that , that warms my heart. There are so many teachers who look past their student's talents and only see them as dumb little kids. We need more teachers that actually care about their students, I love this poem it's incredibly sweet. Great job.
-Riley

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Riley! I have worked with teachers who display the careless qualities you speak of, but there are many who really do strive to help their students grow. I truly appreciate your reading and reviewing!

[Dr. Wood ?]

You must be a great teacher...My tutors could see nothing in me at all....I drifted through school as an invisible non entity.....I stumbled a bit with the scanning of some of the lines but that is probably just ME being picky

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you. I'm sure the stumbles were in my writing - I need to tighten up some of the lines.

[Tree]

Kids are the best. Clean slates, just wanting to learn and open to everything beautiful in the world. I think every adult can remember back to the moment when they realized just how cruel, and hard this world can be. Parents, teachers and mentors can help build strong bridges between those two realities, so that they may always find their way back. As for your special insights, I don't doubt that for a minute, there are people in this world that Just know.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Diego. I think you put it perfectly - we can be bridges between the innocence and the reality - and I strive to be a strong bridge.

[Antoinette Tarsitano-Mo..]

Absolutely awesome!! Your best work yet!!!

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Antoinette! I'm sure "teacher bias" has something to do with that! :)

[Marie]

I don't really discount our young people, because I've seen what some of them can do. They are our future.

[Rita L. Sev]

Exactly. I know a lot of people who value our youth, but as a teacher I hear the negative comments all too often. Thank you.

[quinfinn]

although i love this take on our children and think you wrote a marvelous piece, i am not in judgment of whether or not they can fix our world when they grow up..i am more concerned that there will no longer be a world to fix. and the way people are "raising" their kids today, well, this country can't build prisons fast enough to keep up with the influx which is coming. excellent write, it made me rant....great stuff!

[Rita L. Sev]

A rant is actually a good endorsement of a piece of writing, so thank you, Quin! I have seen so many young people, and how they are being raised, and I can honestly say that, as frustrating as it is, there is still hope. I cling to that every year.

[quinfinn]

i dearly hope so.....i see anarchy in the future...and rebellion and another civil war....

[Rita L. Sev]

Rebellion might not be a bad thing, though my biggest fear is that our young people will not know how to look each other in the eye and really communicate just what they are rebelling against!

[quinfinn]

yes, it takes working minds

[Sami Khalil]

"I see emerging doctors,

Lawyers, nurses, teachers too,

The future of my students

Is the fate that we’re all due



So before you spout opinions

Of “These darn kids today”,

Give just a little thought

To important roles they’ll play"
Parents and teachers mold them for the future and we are grateful for both...A very good write Rita

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Sami!

[Sami Khalil]

My pleasure...:)