A Portrait Of Tomorrow Poem by RIC BASTASA

get the pen of the present
and take the colors of the past
use the hand that you trust
and begin making
tomorrow's portrait

have the ears of twenty years ago
try listening
if the sound is happy
put them there

and for the nose
smell the sweat of your childhood
those that play so well on the grass
and took the plunge on the clean rivers of your life
if you have that nostalgic feeling
then put that nose there

and how about the mouth and the lips
i think, if i were you
i'll take the teen age years
remembering the first kiss
and the first communion
the sound of a tight embrace
and if you like those happenings
then have those years
as your mouth and lips
and even the teeth

and now for the eyes
those that know really how to see
clearly and probingly
ponderous eyes
where wisdom is embedded
i think if i were you
take it from the present
those that see the past
as a summary
and of course the future
as a plan
specific and determined
strong and willing

and with a stroke of your
skilled hand you put the final
touches of tomorrow's portrait

you see your face and you say
you are beautiful
you caress it and tell yourself
you are lovable