stepping into alberto ríos’s “A House Called Tomorrow”

~ jama

“At the end of the day, we must go forward with hope and not backward by fear and division.” ~ Jesse Jackson

“The Way to Eternity” by Bruce Rolff.
A HOUSE CALLED TOMORROW 
by Alberto Ríos

You are not fifteen, or twelve, or seventeen—
You are a hundred wild centuries

And fifteen, bringing with you
In every breath and in every step

Everyone who has come before you,
All the yous that you have been,

The mothers of your mother,
The fathers of your father.

If someone in your family tree was trouble,
A hundred were not:

The bad do not win—not finally,
No matter how loud they are.

We simply would not be here
If that were so.

You are made, fundamentally, from the good.
With this knowledge, you never march alone.

You are the breaking news of the century.
You are the good who has come forward

Through it all, even if so many days
Feel otherwise. But think:

When you as a child learned to speak,
It’s not that you didn’t know words—

It’s that, from the centuries, you knew so many,
And it’s hard to choose the words that will be your own.

From those centuries we human beings bring with us
The simple solutions and songs,

The river bridges and star charts and song harmonies
All in service to a simple idea:

That we can make a house called tomorrow.
What we bring, finally, into the new day, every day,

Is ourselves. And that’s all we need
To start. That’s everything we require to keep going.

Look back only for as long as you must,
Then go forward into the history you will make.

Be good, then better. Write books. Cure disease.
Make us proud. Make yourself proud.

And those who came before you? When you hear thunder,
Hear it as their applause.

~ from Not Go Away Is My Name (Copper Canyon Press, 2020).
“The Magic Bridge” by Nelson L.

*

I thought Ríos’s poem was a good one to share for my first Poetry Friday post of 2025. Above all else, we need HOPE.

The year began on a truly disheartening note, from the devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires to the inauguration of a convicted felon. We can’t help but worry about the next four years. Most days, it feels like the bad guys are winning.

But when considering the poem’s central premise — that in the larger context of humanity as a whole, encompassing centuries of history through many generations, it’s true that “good” persists. How life affirming for Ríos to say we are proof of that! We are “the good that has come forward;” each of us embodies everything we need to build a better tomorrow. Powerful us, we are enough.

“Sunlit Sanctuary” by Wyanne Thompson.

So, we put one step in front of the other and keep going. We can be good, be better — at whatever we wish to do. After all, we owe that to all the brave souls who came before, and the bright spirits who will light the future. When it feels like the world is breaking, the only sensible thing to do is to make something new. When we create poems, stories, songs, drawings, paintings, recipes, artistry of any kind, we actuate the heart of humanity.

Abide. Be vigilant. Pace yourself. Act when necessary and appropriate. Don’t give in to the lies or fear. Champion the truth. Don’t let anyone take away your joy or wear you down. Keep hope alive. Remember what Thoreau once said: “Good is the only investment that never fails.”

*

Lovely and talented Jan Godown Annino is hosting the Roundup at bookseedstudio. Zip on over to check out the full menu of poetic goodness being served up around the blogosphere this week. Your assignment should you choose to accept it: Do at least one thing this weekend that makes you happy. 🙂

*Copyright © 2025 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.

29 thoughts on “stepping into alberto ríos’s “A House Called Tomorrow””

  1. I’m saving this pep poem, this pep post, pep talk for re-reading. Thank you, Jama. Some days I can remember this goodness and others I just can’t. This post helps. It gives me hope.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s definitely harder and harder to remember the goodness when we are so inundated with negatives on a daily basis. But I do believe in karma and divine retribution. The day will come. Meanwhile, we hold on to what we know is true, moral, and beautiful.

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  2. Good wishes Good Jama, on the last day of this historic first month of our new year. How can a reader not breathe in, breathe out more calmly, with a greater sense of Hope, than before, after reading this poem [ new-to-me, thank you] after viewing these inspiring color-filled scenes you’ve thoughtfully collected & after reading your wonderful words? I hope to share this poem & this blog at Bookseedstudio, later.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. I wrote quotes in my notebook to remind me “You are made, fundamentally, from the good.” I often think of my father and how upset he would be with the current turn of events. He was a child of the Depression. He rose out of it and taught me that courage and strength and hope are the most important ways to live, but now, I’m finding myself wondering if that kind of life is leaving us behind. How will we make it through? Thanks for this poem and your commitment to hope.

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    1. Thanks for sharing your Father’s words of wisdom. Yes to courage, strength and hope — they will help the good to prevail. We are fundamentally made from the good, as the poem says. This holds true regardless of one’s religious bent.

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  5. Beautifully said, Jama. Truly. 💗💗 I am always turning to Rios, who also said, “Every day,
    What we do extends us, me to you, you to me, neighbor to neighbor,
    All of us in action. All of us affected. We have learned—
    And learning is everything—that even the smallest act matters.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m finding solace and comfort in many of Rios’s poems. Small acts of kindness definitely matter. It’s good to remember that we are not in this alone, so when we begin one to one, paying attention, practicing empathy, it all adds up.

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  6. Thank you for coming by my post today, Jama. It’s been a whirlwind of a morning with some bookstore troubles, and now I finally have the chance to read your post, like a hug for today, each word a blessing, but this, “Then go forward into the history you will make.” I will hold tight! Granddaughter Ingrid is 15, soon 16, wow! I will share this with her, too! She is not dumb, worries over the future as we all navigate the political news. I think she will hold it tightly! Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I do have hope in young people; Rios was addressing them in his poem for they hold the key to the future. No matter our age, though, we need to summon the energy and idealism needed to make the changes we seek. Your grand girls have grown into such beautiful young women!

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  7. The ‘Make us proud. Make yourself proud’ brought tears to my eyes.

    I’ve read so often that quote about being our ancestors’ wildest dreams, but to make YOURSELF proud – able to look at yourself at the end of the day and know in your heart you gave it your best – that’s an important thing.

    Thank you, as always, for making your blog a haven. ♥

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You’re right — too often we think we’ve tried our best only to find it wasn’t enough . . . but the ever-present challenge to do better propels us to excellence. BTW, love your new icon — that smiling face is a joy to see this week. 🙂

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  9. Thanks for this terrific an empowering post overflowing with hope Jama! 💙 Love this line, “we can make a house called tomorrow.” And your words, “When we create poems, stories, songs, drawings, paintings, recipes, artistry of any kind, we actuate the heart of humanity.” You’ve filled us up to maneuver what will keep on coming, thanks, xox! And for the lovely imagery too!

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    1. Thanks for the kind words, Michelle. We will definitely be tested the next four years. It will be difficult, with levels of corruption never before seen. But it will make us stronger, hopefully more determined than ever to stay the course. We know in our hearts what is right, what is true, what matters. We can counter ugliness with beauty.

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  10. Jama, thank you for your heartfelt post with A HOUSE CALLED TOMORROW by Alberto Ríos, your words, your quotes, and see the beautiful images. I needed to read and see all of this. You have moved me. Thank you. These words of yours stand out for me, “When it feels like the world is breaking, the only sensible thing to do is to make something new. When we create poems, stories, songs, drawings, paintings, recipes, artistry of any kind, we actuate the heart of humanity.” and “After all, we owe that to all the brave souls who came before, and the bright spirits who will light the future.” I am going to write this poem and some of your words in my notebook to reread. I am also going to send the poem to a friend and one of my daughters. I’m also going to look more into Alberto Rios. Thank you for organizing your hopeful post. I appreciate all of it.

    “Sunlit Sanctuary” by Wyanne Thompson is beautiful. Thank you. 🙂

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    1. So glad this post resonated with you, Gail. Rios is definitely a favorite, especially now. Poetry is good all the time, but especially so when we seek solace, guidance, inspiration, hope. Words are powerful, can effect change, hopefully challenge us to be the best version of ourselves.

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  11. Thank you for this post, Jama! As usual I am late reading it. Just got back from a 50th anniversary trip to New Orleans with my husband. It was colorful, Mardi Gras ready. It definitely was a nice pick me up! Happy Sunday!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Your blog is always part of the good, Jama. We all need encouragement lately- to do and to make and to be the Good as much as we can. I love the ending of thunder and applause in Rios’s poem… Thank you.

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  15. Oh, how I love Alberto Ríos. I’m holding onto this:

    The bad do not win—not finally,
    No matter how loud they are.

    and

    You are made, fundamentally, from the good.
    With this knowledge, you never march alone.

    Thanks, dearest Jama.

    Like

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