THE STEGER Prize For Poetry
Flight to the Future
by Juanisha Brooks
Now boarding Future Flight 143
Now boarding Future Flight 143
I'm off on a futuristic flight
Any strife that I may have
Praying that the poet in me brings me back
I'll make sure my suitcase is packed
With metaphors and similes
I'll gently fold the words but won't crease the creativity
Transform me into abullet involved in World War III
Mold me into the microphone speaking the words
of a first female president
Take me on a space resort so I can chill with the Martian residents
Though in our time we've set precendents
Our dreams for the future have become artificial like our intelligence
At times it seems like we've lost our mind and our senses
We want to taste the future but cover sour moments with mints
We want to touch the future but settle living through others fingerprints
We want to see the future, but can't make it out through our tints
So we end up seeing the future on a false pretense
There will be no cars with wings
But dreams riding information highways not stopping at red lights
Gas would be a dollar just so you could ride your wishes until
the wheels fell off
The poor could still shop if the sale came off
Students could still go to college if their Pell fell off
And even if a models fake nails fell off
She could still see her true beauty inside
Our top models would be our role models walking the runway
of truth and not fake pride
Our idols wouldn't only have to be American
We'd still be survivors without the fake beaches or sand
Music would be about love again
Women's lives wouldn't be based on whether or not they could find a
Husband
In the future
Our future
Prepare to leave hard times behind on your journey
I'll hold on tight as I go on my journey
Envisioning Dr. King stretched out on a gurney
Will we still embrace his dreams of equality in the future?
Will you follow the road that is traveled less?
Or sell your soul just for the sake of success?
You may suffer defeat even when you think you're the best
But time is of the essence and the future is a test
What matters most is that you fight for what you believe in
There is no future without everyone believing
There will be a greater change
Like homelessness diminished no more asking for spare change
No more babies crying after facing drug withdrawal pains
Not having dreams for the future is like being enslaved without chains
Even the sunshine comes out again, after it rains
In the future pray that it is not polluted
Your life can't be Tivo'd so don't try to mute it
You have to be your own Einstein
And invent your future but make it prime time
So fight to make a difference no matter the cost
With your flight to the future you'd make more than you've ever lost
Forget schemes of getting rich quick
Or how many times your web page has gotten hits
Turn off the TV's distracting from your truth
Your life is the equation and your future is your proof.
Embrace who you are and what you can do for the world
And you will truly be rich without validation of diamonds or pearls
Each day anew flight to the future is preparing to take off
It's up to you ...
Are you on this flight or off?
Passengers prepare for takeoff
This flight may be rough but better days lie ahead
Buckle up with strong ambition
And prepare yourselves for a memorable flight
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