Poem Buried within a Time Capsule
to Be Unearthed Spring 2097
Citizens, what did you find
when awakened this morning?
Your sky as blue as ours,
a few sparrows rustling
among lime-green leaves
of April maples?
All people fed
and housed and free?
This would be the great blessing —
though a still greater surprise.
— Kevin Stein
Kevin Stein is the Illinois Poet Laureate. This poem
is reprinted with permission. It appears in Chance Ransom, published
by the University of Illinois Press. For more about Stein and poetry in Illinois,
go to poetlaureate.il.gov.
People’s Poetry accepts poems on any subject, but ones that deal with issues
of local interest are encouraged. Send yours to Books and Poetry Editor Corrine
Frisch c/o Illinois Times, P.O. Box 5256, Springfield, IL 62705, or to
cfrisch@illinoistimes.com with
“People’s Poetry” in the subject line.
This article appears in Nov 18-24, 2004.
