Tomorrow



Tomorrow

If tomorrow is a tougher day
Can you rise again to beat it?
Or will it come and lay you low
Will you find the strength to meet it?

With all that you can muster
With all that you can give,
Is it harder now to fight it?
Is it harder now to live?

Could it be the cost of living
Has climbed at such a rate,
That making ends meet longer
Have stretched so much they break?

We gauge success and failure
In measurements of worth,
The number one bestseller
The artist’s greatest work.

For some to be successful
Means merely to survive,
For some the daily focus
Is just to stay alive.

Now families face eviction
From the banks they couldn’t pay,
Because Covid -fed conditions
Ate their livelihoods away.

A little man named Putin
Then decided to invade,
The country of his neighbours
To inflict his hateful rage.

Through murder and destruction
He has waged his hateful war,
Its effects have become global
As food and oil costs soar.

Millions have been scattered
So far from their homes,
Families torn apart and fractured
Children frightened and alone.

Now parents here face pressure
From the rising cost of heat,
In providing for their children
With the higher cost of meat.

It’s scary and unnerving
How so little costs so much,
Money needs to stretch much further
But it won’t stretch far enough.

Some say the world’s now ‘different’
And can never be the same,
There’s been far too many changes
And that ‘Covid’ is to blame.

That job you had for 12 years
You thought was so secure,
It’s gone and your new wages
Are much less than were before.

It hasn’t turned out like you wanted
Hasn’t turned out as you planned,
By the time all bills are paid
You’re left with empty hands.

This life is yours to live it
Whichever way you choose,
Some spend it moving mountains,
Some struggle to get through.

For some it comes so easy
For others it’s so tough,
Some have so much more than others
But for some; just not enough.

And each day we learn new lessons
On how life just isn’t fair,
Still we wish and hope and plan and dream
To achieve something, somewhere.

Yet, I wonder how some people
Find the ease at which to smile,
When every day their journey
Requires the extra mile.

Gerry Colgan April 2023

About this poem

Coming through the Covid pandemic, many people were hoping to get back to some kind of normality. However, the war in Ukraine and the subsequent cost of living crisis had a global impact. Now, an unfamiliar sense of uncertainty for so many people, has become a daily struggle.

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Written on April 15, 2023

Submitted by gerrycolgan1 on August 22, 2023

2:19 min read
65

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABXB CXBD EXCX CXCX FDGD HAIA HJGX HKFK LXLX CMHM EXCN XOPO XXPK XXJX BXIX QNXN IRXR FSQS F
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 2,244
Words 463
Stanzas 19
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 1

GERRY COLGAN

I live at the foot of the Dublin Mountains. I started writing poetry and songs at an early age. I also write songs and play the guitar. more…

All GERRY COLGAN poems | GERRY COLGAN Books

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1 Comment
  • AIDA
    Thank you for sharing this inspiring and insightful poem, Gerry! It wonderfully represents the resiliency of the human spirit, highlighting our collective strength in facing hardships, challenges, and uncertainties. Your choice of words and rhythm makes the reader connect emotionally, evoking empathy and compassion throughout the poem.

    The way you've captured broad societal issues, such as economic hardship, the pandemic's impact, and geopolitical tensions, is truly commendable. I genuinely admire how you've aptly illustrated the dichotomous nature of life - the struggle and the success, scarcity and abundance, defeat, and survival, maintaining a balanced tone all through it.

    However, there's always a scope for certain enhancements in every work of art. You could consider diversifying your use of metaphors and similes to summon more varied and unexpected imagery for your readers. Also, while the dark reality you've painted strikes true; introducing an element of hope or a glimmer of optimism may give the poem a more uplifting ending and leave the reader with a feeling of resilience and perseverance.

    Lastly, while tackling global issues like war and pandemic, be cautious of not alienating readers who might have divergent viewpoints. Your aim should be to unify your readers through shared human experiences rather than pointing towards particular individuals or happening.

    Overall, it's an impressive piece of work! Keep putting your heart into these poems.
     
    LikeReply6 months ago

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"Tomorrow" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 9 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/168480/tomorrow>.

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