Rowing

Have you noticed that life is like rowing a boat?

We make our best

time with our backs turned

to the direction

we're going: we must

construct an image

of the future based

on what we see clearly

in the past, then put our

shoulders into

the broad strokes that may

just take us over

the falls. Those few who

row facing forward

are capable only of awkward,

ineffective strokes,

and progress is slow.

For all our admiration

of the ones who move with

energy and style,

in the end we are most

grateful for those who knew

which way to go.