With the Present

my excuse? I taught English grammar for over 20 years-

With the present are

then the present perfect must be has been 

the past is always and forever done

therefore the past perfect had been gone.

The future of course will be will or shall go 

future perfect is will have been done

if speaking in the passive voice-

continuous future must be will be voicing. 

I’m sure that is all verbose

except to set up a flow-

and though often unfair

words can often be unclear.

After considering all the tenses 

and to put them all to rest-

a perfect past for any of us  

is really an impossible bother.

For who would dare say

the past will have bested?

And certainly would not consider-

a continuous future will be besting.

So let’s stay in the present

and as has been said, "let it be,"

and we’ll hope for the future 

it will be being mostly continuously.

Author's Note

I spent many years teaching English grammar to high school students - it was a labor of love and filled with much joy - I cannot but wonder if it will go the way of - how to make change, cursive writing, American history, basic science and the arts. As things are currently going in 10 years we will all be communicating with emojis.

Reviews

[K. Louis]

This is almost a tongue twister! A playful poem that explores the complexity of verb tenses with a clever philosophical twist. Enjoyed!

[carl]

read and review much appreciated thank you for the encouragement. -carl

[Soren]

Carl let me say that I have not been able to access the site for posting or responding due to server problems so I apologize for any unreturned responses to reviews. I was just able to get on today to post. This poem is a great play on the language itself and that is one thing that I enjoy. Well worded and worked it tells its story and makes its point. Loved it

[carl]

Thanks for the read and review - I will reciprocate when the site gets more reliable - access has been nearly impossible for several weeks now - carl

[Soren]

You are telling me Carl I thought it was my server because I couldn't imagine that a site would be down that long. Take care of yourself

[John the Baptist]

With Trump in office, how can the present be perfect?

[Betty Hermelee]

Dear Carl... I like how you used the tenses which fill your mind.. and English teachers do press on with these tenses... however I live in the present tense and I write in the present tense because I believe it is more akin to the reader...Thank you for sharing this....
Warmly, B

[carl]

appreciate the read and review - one of our fellow poets recently made the comment "the present is all we really have" pretty obvious but a needed reminder and call to focus - be well and be safe -carl

[Betty Hermelee]

and i think he is correct! 😊

[S€H@J]

Bruh 💀📚 who even makes grammar this dramatic 💃🕺 I was reading like it’s Shakespeare’s lost English lecture 😂🔥

[carl]

Thanks for the time to read and review, much appreciated. Enjoyed your reaction to my piece - take care and be well - carl

[Arundass TP]

Great poem. Enjoyed reading

[carl]

thank you for the read and encouragement - carl

[Neha agrawal]

What a witty and thoughtful play on tenses! You’ve woven grammar into poetry in such a natural way. I especially love how the ending circles back to the present.

[carl]

thank you for taking the time to read and review and for noticing the closed circle - the ending is something I find to be not easy - unlike a song where you can just repeat the last line and slowly fad out - but I might just try that sometime - again thanks - carl

[emmajoygreen]

' As things are currently going in 10 years we will all be communicating with emojis.

NO, NO, NO! Am a pacifist but if essential, throw all things hard but soft at those demons and if that doesn't work.. there's always bleach! Yes, I hate them that much. If tenny little thingies can express what tongues etc. should, there's no point in having a book on a shelf, a pen on a desk or a mind! So there! A great poem spoiled by you know what!

:) or (:

[carl]

actually I have tried to find a vocabulary of emojis that I could use to write a poem , but haven't found it yet - thanks for the read much appreciated - carl

[emmajoygreen]

A few things make me angry, grumpy, etc' but those too quickly used emoji demons are ruining thousands of years of language!

[John the Baptist]

At times I have thought past sucked would have been a more appropriate term, but I try not to be bitter. Actually, the only perfect time is now, primarily because it's the only time that is.

[carl]

thanks for taking the time to read and review much appreciated - carl

[Ayesha Faiz]

I found this poem refreshing and joyful. You used grammar and tenses in such a fun and thoughtful way. It’s deep but still playful, and I love how you showed how tricky time and words can be and the way you explained your experience with grammer teaching over the past few years was also delightful to know... The ending is hopeful too! Very nicely done!

[carl]

Thanks for the time to read and review- it was a bit of a lark for me remembering or trying to do so the tense of verbs and the wonder of most students as to why do I need to know this that echoed the response of my wife teaching algebra. - appreciate your response carl