Tomorrow Is On Its Way

Just a little something we wrote in English :) Yay life.

Tomorrow Is On Its Way
by Paige Burton

I’d thought that Alice in Wonderland was a silly story. . .  until I read it. I’d only seen the movie adaptations. When I finally read it a few years ago, I fell in love. It was filled with excitement and wonder. It was that kind of excitement and wonder that stays in your heart forever, reminding you of pure childhood magic. Carroll writes:

“Suppose it were nine o’clock in the morning, just time to begin lessons: you’d only have to whisper a hint to Time, and round goes the clock in a twinkling! Half-past one, time for dinner!” . . .
“That would be grand, certainly,” said Alice thoughtfully; “but then-- I shouldn’t be hungry for it, you know.”
“Not at first, perhaps,” said the Hatter: “but you could keep it to half-past one as long as you liked.”

Unfortunately, I can’t do that. Time keeps going. Tomorrow is on its way. If I don’t live life proactively, tomorrow will be here, and my chance will be lost.

Last year I got a pocket watch. When I’m stressed, I hold it against my ear and listen. I used to hate the sound of clocks ticking. Now it takes me to Wonderland, that land where the Time that we know here doesn’t exist. Tomorrow is on its way, but it hasn’t come yet.

They say it’s darkest before the dawn. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like the dawn will come, and you’re falling down a never-ending rabbit hole. But you pick up your pocket watch. You hold it against your ear, and you listen. Tick. . . tick. . . tick. . . And you realize that dawn is coming. You can hear it getting closer. Tomorrow is on its way, and it’s bringing a brighter day.

Tomorrow is on its way. Whether we choose to work toward, ignore, or find hope in it, it will be here soon. This I believe, and it is this that gives me strength.

Broken and New

         I

Excitement and confidence
Racing through me,
Doubtless that I’d get in.

They knew I could sing.
They knew I could act.
They knew I could dance.

My unwavering dream of five years--
AIDA: The Musical.
It was finally coming true.

They’d let us know
Who got a part
In a few day’s time.

Anticipation builds
As I wait.
The list is up!

    II

. . . Heartbreak.
I just don’t understand.
I was so sure I could do it.

“It’s okay,” I tell them.
“I’m so proud of all of you!
Make it the best show I’ve ever seen!”

But trying to be strong is hard.
Once that shell breaks,
All you have inside is pain.

I can be cheerful
For a while.
But is seeming “happy”
Worth the hurt?

Sometimes
You need to fall to the ground
And just cry.

Cry for the hopelessness.
Cry for your shattered heart.
Cry, if only for the sake of crying.

And then you get up.
You brush away your broken dreams
And you pray you’ll find something else to live for.

III

Though still crushed,
I go back.
I go back to where this grief began.

I know I can’t be in it,
But maybe. . .
Maybe I can still be a part of it.

I could make the play.
It can’t come to life without costumes!
There’s a spark of hope.

Sparks become flames,
And flames rise,
Bright and warm.

Under the broken pieces
Of my former passion,
I think I’ve finally found it:
My new dream.