The History of the Future

The History of the Future

The bets were in; the night afire. 
All the animals gathered, but no gorging allowed. 
A cease fire of the circle of life.

The Sun was setting but the fireflies illuminated the path; the Tortoise slowly see-sawed up the ramp. 
And the three-legged squirrels and the obese hippos - yelled and cheered. 

Before the aged reptile reached the top, the Hare darted by and ran circles round him. 
And the heads of the herds and the alphas of the clans - gave a thumbs up. 

Of course, this was all a joke. 
The haves vs the have-nots and the haves always win.
Of course, the joke only lasts
Until it doesn’t.

The fox walked out with his gun, the one to start the race. 
Unaware it was the one to start the war.
The forest formed a corridor – lined with big and little,
Prey and predator, squirrel and grizzly bear.

Bang!
And they were off, the hare speeding ahead, then running backwards taunting the tortoise.
“Hey loser, you want me to get you an Uber?”

Had the race been a sprint it would have been over before it began.
But this was a long haul.

Like the history of the future. 
At one time, crashing subatomic particles,
Then, chemical lovemaking, 
Then, exchanging fluids filled with blueprints.
Now, by choice, by ego, by burning all that lived in the past.

And like we knew from the start,
The illusion of control, of power, of gifts of talent lasting forever.
The Hare took a nap,
The Tortoise won the race.

And like we’ll know when the future arrives;
The war was lost by all.