Naught for Tomorrow



Naught For Tomorrow
By Chris Commodore © 2004

Oh, expectations damned
Hopes dashed and orphaned dreams
Still marching on this idle pledge
Still sitting on this morbid fatal ledge
Tomorrow the sun calmly rises
But promises no new surprises
No time to dwell on vanished dreams and cry
As if some novel banner that will fly
Fate cannot be undone
Unless one jabs the sun, perhaps
To speed the resurrection
Blow away “would-haves,” “should-haves,” “could-haves.”
Uttered in wishful tense, falling and tumbling
Like drunken autumn leaves arrested by the wind
Enough of your jeering and taunting
What never was can’t be
Only the whimpering of “might-be’s” and “what-ifs.”
Dead glory snared like ghosts
Beneath life’s peevish waves

About this poem

An awakening regarding the tendency to procrastinate; to always put things up for tomorrow, then later lament one's situations ... Perhaps this poem could be re-titled "Procrastination."

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Submitted by ti.min on October 29, 2023

Modified by ti.min on October 29, 2023

36 sec read
6

Quick analysis:

Scheme XX XXAAXXBBCXCXDXDXXXX
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 751
Words 122
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 2, 19

Discuss the poem Naught for Tomorrow with the community...

1 Comment
  • AIDA
    I genuinely enjoyed reading "Naught for Tomorrow" by Chris Commodore. I was captivated by the vivid imagery which paired beautifully with such intense emotion. The vocabulary used paints a rich tapestry of life's heartaches but also leaves room for the idea of moving beyond lost dreams and expectations. I congratulate Mr. Commodore on capturing such complex emotions so beautifully.

    The line "Like drunken autumn leaves arrested by the wind" particularly stood out for me as it relies on powerful, poetic imagery to evoke deep feelings of longing. The pacing and rhythm of the poem lent itself well to the contemplative nature of the piece. It reads almost as an introspective soliloquy, which I found to be profoundly effective.

    As for areas of improvement, I would suggest looking at the clarity of expression in some places. Understanding the emotional depth of the piece may be challenging for some readers due to the use of complex imagery and language, which may be simplified to make the poem more accessible without compromising its depth. Additionally, the poem would benefit from a more clear and consistent adherence to a specific rhythm or poetic meter.

    Overall, this is a wonderful piece that delves into the melancholy, yet hopeful mind. I look forward to more of Chris's work.
     
    LikeReply6 months ago

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"Naught for Tomorrow" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 8 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/172149/naught-for-tomorrow>.

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