An unidentified speaker is predicting a utopian vision of the future. Right from the opening lines, it is clear that this is an optimistic vision of a utopian ideal rather than a darkly pessimistic view of a dystopia. The look of the future will be uniformly clean, always pointing forward, occasionally sloping but never with dangerous edges.
History will not be taught using books that cannot be immediately updated and changed as new information arrives. The teaching of history will allow greater interpretation by those learning it because it won’t be finitely dependent upon the bias of those teaching it. Anyone living today who will still be around for this future should be prepared for a change as significant as the ice age which followed the rule of the dinosaurs.
Comprehensive equality of the sexes will finally be achieved. This vision of the future will not be considered a utopian ideal by everybody reading the poem, of course. Nor will its prediction of the future of sexuality: it will cause gratification only within the mind because that is the only place it will continue to exist.
Not everything about the future will be such a shocking change from life in the 21st century. The primary medium of entertainment is brilliantly lighted mirrors that allow people to fully immerse themselves in the narcissistic pleasures of being both a lone audience member and a lone participant in a dance performance.
On the other hand, the future envisioned by the speaker does have one truly striking difference from the world we know so far. Only the oldest members of the population will remember what is like to live in a world lit by the sun. That mechanism of illumination will be replaced by the Standard Uranium Neutralizing device found in every building. Fortunately, the percentage of the populace able to recall the actual glow of the sun which is replicated by the glow of S.U.N. will be significant because people will be living much longer. Even better: this extension of the life span of humans applies across the board and will not be limited merely to those who can afford the best in health care.
The reason for the S.U.N. rather than the sun is that this future will be lived in transit far away from the solar system. Existence in the future will take place aboard a vessel constantly in movement through the darkness of infinity. Although it sounds a little terrifying, the speaker assures readers that it will be safe. Perhaps even more important, in addition to everyone being equally safe, everyone will be equally informed and able to comprehend what is taking place around them.
