by Jonathan Reed
A poem to be read forward or
in reverse. The content of the poem stays the same, but the meaning changes
completely.
Submitted to the Yocum
Library Blog by Miriam Stone
The Lost Generation –
I am part of the lost
generation
And I refuse to believe that
I can
Change the World.
I realize that may be a
shock, but,
“Happiness comes from within”
Is a lie.
And money will make me happy.
So, in 30 years I will tell
my children
They are not the most
important
Thing in my life.
My employer 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 that 30 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.
There is hope.
It is foolish to presume that
my generation is
Apathetic and lethargic.
It will be evident that my
peers and I
Care about this earth.
No longer can it be said that
Environmental destruction
will be the norm.
In the future I will live in
a country of
My own making.
I do not concede that
30 years from now
I will be celebrating the
10th anniversary
of my divorce.
Experts tell me this is a
quick fix society.
But this will not be true in
my era.
Families stayed together once
upon a time.
I tell you this:
Family is more important than
work.
I have my priorities straight
because
My employer will know
That they are not the most
important thing
In my life.
So in 30 years I will tell my
children,
“Money will make me happy”
Is a lie, and
“True happiness comes from
within.”
I realize this may be a shock
but,
I believe that I can change
the world.
And I refuse to believe that
I am
Part of a lost generation.
Reed entered his poem in an
AARP contest in 2009 called U@50. The contestants were required to create a 2
minute video describing their vision of the future – what life will be like
when they are 50. This entry took second place. It can be viewed on YouTube.
