Disappearing Art
Disappearing Art
Not many people send
Handwritten letters any more.
We used to go the mailbox
Full of high hopes.
Maybe a favorite aunt wrote
That she was coming for a visit,
Or we discovered a letter
From that special person, and
We’d tear it open right there!
After we’d read them, often
We tied the letters in packets
With a piece of blue string,
To be reread and savored
Later, over and over again.
Sadly, now that we can send e-mails
Nearly anywhere in the world
And expect a quick reply,
Written letters seem old-fashioned.
And yet, we’ve learned so much
About the past from letters
That helped us understand
The letter-writers and their times -
Letters from a president, a statesman,
A prairie mother, a soldier overseas.
What of the correspondents of today?
Will museums display their e-mails?
I wonder how great will be the loss –
All the stories that will never be written
And all the history we will never know.
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a
Premium Membership.
