C: Be the Change You Want to See in the World

The quote is from Gandhi.

change-the-world

I found the poem below on a blog, Cha Cha Gigi, which, sadly, seems to have ended last June.

Please read this poem carefully – one line at a time.  No skimming or going ahead!!  You’ll miss out if you do.

Lost Generation
I realize this may be a shock but
'Happiness comes from within'
is a lie;
'Money will make me happy'
So in thirty years I will tell my children
they are not the most important thing in my life.
My employers will know that
I have my priorities straight because
work
is more important than
family
I tell you this
Once upon a time
Families stayed together
but this will not be true in my era
this is a quick fix society
Experts tell me
Thirty years from now I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce
I do not concede that
I will live in a country of my own making
In the future
Environmental destruction will be the norm
No longer can it be said that
My peers and I care about this earth
It will be evident that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic
It is foolish to presume that
There is hope.
And all of this will come true unless we choose to reverse it.

--Jonathan Reed, 2007

Now read each line, starting from the last line to the first line (reverse it).

Don’t you love it?  Yes, hopelessness can be reversed!! 

journey-begins-single-step

Your deep thoughts for the day

compliments of Stickhorse Cowgirls…C

P.S. – as a “Wordie,” myself, I admire Mr. Reed’s word agility here almost as much as I admire the sentiment! (How long do you reckon this took him to write?)

Comments

Vee said…
Very clever indeed. Thanks for sharing this. I see that you have been blog-hopping and have found those abandoned blogs across the kingdom. So many of them!
Anonymous said…
Let's find the man and ask him. He should be under the listing of "Great Modern Philosophers and Poets!" Very profound. Thanks for sharing.
I love this!!! Words of Wisdom for sure -
KathyB. said…
That is a very clever piece of writing. To have even thought to write a piece in such a way is amazing, but the message is worth reading both ways.
Vivianne said…
Very clever, I love this - thanks :-)
happyone said…
That is really cool. I love it.
This is certainly something to save a re-read from time to time.
That was amazing. Like you, I admire the author's ability to work this out so that it could be read from top to bottom or from bottom to top. Thanks for sharing this.
Sandra said…
I had read this before, C. But it was well worth a second read. It's so impressive that he could be so clever and still express his sentiments so eloquently. I couldn't even begin to guess how long it took him to compose that.
Michelle said…
That is so fantastic. I have never read this before.
dulcy said…
So glad I read your post as a beginning to my day! Inspiring and hopeful. Here's to a wonderful weekend!
dulcy
Ter'e said…
I have come to your blog for the very first time. I love it. I love STRONG creative women!
What a breath of fresh air this blog is.
Way to go!!!!!
Jayne said…
Ah, that is good. Most clever and thought provoking. A lot to digest there. Now I'm afraid I'm going to start reading everything backwards. ;)
I love that Ghandi quote.
Joe Todd said…
Well done thanks for reposting

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