Now And Then Poem by Bryan Sefton

They sit in classes centuries hence
And try to comprehend the good
Of everyone who lived back then
Which is the now, perhaps we should
Also sit and view ourselves
And ascertain just how we stood

They see a people compromised
A world map showing little bits
Borders marked on land and skies
And little people making threats
At anyone who's passing by
'Come on in, see what you get! '


They roar with laughter as they read
Or laugh at old newsreels that show
Our leaders saying 'sit and talk
And doing so all come to blows!
They think Neanderthal man advanced
We of the now retarded, slow

For now the only country's Earth
With towns called Britain, Russia, France
China, India, America, all
Cared for by the World Wide Health
The whole world working to an end
And sharing in the Common Wealth

They read of wars where millions fought
They read of countless numbers slain
They read of how, while millions starved
Money was pouring down the drain
In search of greater killing power
Contemptuously, they laugh again