Our days

filled in

like so many gifts,

unwrapped

then rewrapped

for the next day’s needs.

Mark those calendar’s days done

In peace and pencil.

This past,

Through habit,

Becomes the future,

assuming that what we once wanted

is what we always wanted.

 

Here is a link to a ChatGPT explication of the poem.

Here is the actual explication if you don’t feel like one more click.

 

This poem portrays the passage of time and the repetitive nature of our daily lives. It suggests that each day is like a gift, which we open and use up, only to wrap it again for the next day’s requirements. The act of marking the completed days on a calendar is done peacefully and with a pencil, implying a sense of routine and predictability.

The poem reflects on the way our past experiences shape our future desires and aspirations. By emphasizing the role of habit, it suggests that our past choices and wants often become ingrained in our lives, influencing our future decisions. The poem questions whether what we once desired and pursued is truly what we always want or if it’s merely an assumption we make due to familiarity and habit.

In essence, the poem explores the cyclical nature of our existence, where days come and go, routines are repeated, and the past molds the future. It encourages reflection on the choices we make and the goals we pursue, urging us to consider whether they align with our present desires and aspirations or if they are simply remnants of the past.