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Open Poetry #46
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threadbear
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since 2008-07-10
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Indy

0 posted 2010-05-16 10:19 PM


I Used to Be a Hippie

I used to be a hippie and perhaps I still am
I feel overtaxed and still mad 'bout Viet Nam.
But the Government's a terrible dancer
and my feet are sore.
I've taken their lies until I can't take it no more.

They attach gold eyelets to their power purse strings
They're only interested in money that you can bring.
I'm still worried about the rights of an unborn child
and millions around the world who feel they're defiled.

I used to be a hippie and perhaps I still am
I'm looking for a hero in a Senate full of spam.
The anti-everybody people are going for my throat
The athiests and feminists are trying to get my goat.

Somewhere deep inside me is the beat of a dove
When I'm in  doubt, I'll say: Peace and Love
But I used to be a hippie, perhaps I still am
for even now I refuse to buy into their scams.

A necklace of white, I wear 'round my neck
Some call it kitch, others may call it dreck
But to this day, I stayed loyal to my plan
I used to be a hippie, and perhaps I still am...



Jeff Feezle 3/2010
Writer's note: this poem all began because a friend asked me:  Why do you always wear that white and black necklace?  
The necklace for me is some sort of a trademark, a reminder to stay loyal to certain values; yup, a throwback to the 70's.
The necklace looks like this:

© Copyright 2010 Jeff Feezle - All Rights Reserved
Andrew Scott
Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558
Redlands,CA,USA
1 posted 2010-05-16 10:43 PM


Right on! I was a little to young to be a part of the movement in its hay-day, being born in '63, but I can still appreciate the ideals of the time. Your poem speaks volumes for what was, and still is, worth speaking out against. I say wear the neckless and never give in. If you've ever come across one of my replies, you'll see I often wish peace. I do so now, with sincerity. Peace!

"We'll chase them like rats across the tundra."

threadbear
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since 2008-07-10
Posts 817
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2 posted 2010-05-16 11:37 PM


You're great, Andrew!
A kindred spirit.  One that I hope will never die in us.
My fervant wish is for Peace to suddenly break out
worldwide.
Imagine, if some nation
DECLARED PEACE upon its enemy!
Sounds too Churchillesque, doesn't it?
jeff

serenity blaze
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since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738

3 posted 2010-05-16 11:39 PM


Love the necklace, love the poem. (And I know it's not very cool of me to say so, but? As long as y'don't smell like patchoulie, it's all groovy. <--that somehow turned into "it's all gravy" and thus, the language evolves.

(Essorant might argue that it devolves as well, but bless him for putting up the good fight, eh?)



Enjoyed this--lyrical and yet matter o' fact.

(Some might say, black and white.)


threadbear
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since 2008-07-10
Posts 817
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4 posted 2010-05-17 12:38 PM


Thank you so much, Serenity.  At least you're not laughing at my nostalgia.  
still have long hair
still wear rock t-shirts
still ....well...
we'll leave it right there! LOL

During the day, I'm a Preppie
and at home, I'm a hippie.  
The dichotomy is not lost on me.
Idealism vs. realism. KnowhutImean?
Jeff

serenity blaze
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since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738

5 posted 2010-05-17 12:57 PM


It's all gravy. *laughing*

(That doesn't mean I know whut y'mean, it just...seemed to fit.)

I should have a cup of tea. (but I was serious about that patchouli--the stuff still gives me the shudders.)

And I can't wait to show off my own new necklace...I'm all about the pearls, baby!

Balladeer
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since 1999-06-05
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Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
6 posted 2010-05-17 07:46 AM


Afraid I wasn't able to join in that period of time, Jeff, but we read about it. We did feel, however, we were part of the beat generation...every day we beat them or they beat us

It WAS a wild, wacky time, though, wasn't it?...and it produced some fantastic music!


ramisf
Member
since 2007-05-17
Posts 93

7 posted 2010-05-17 03:17 PM


you reminf me when the dollar Sign was "In Gold we trust" before they changed it to "In God we trust"... you are absolutely right lots of people like power and when they have the power they turn to be selfish and no one uses it constuctively
Earl Brinkman
Senior Member
since 2010-03-03
Posts 1183
Osaka, Japan
8 posted 2010-05-17 08:37 PM


I was only a baby during that period so there were a lot of things happening that I was unaware of.  I sometimes watch `All in the Family` on DVD and `Meathead` gives me a feel for the period.  What with Watergate and Vietnam there were many instances in which the government was corrupt or incompetent.
whisperingwalt
Member
since 2010-04-29
Posts 240
Coquitlam, BC, Canada
9 posted 2010-05-18 02:59 AM


Yep you`re a Hippie!...but so what...good job sharing in this poem..ww
Bob K
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since 2007-11-03
Posts 4208

10 posted 2010-05-19 04:49 AM




     Read any George Starbuck?  He's got the solid sense of form and the outrage as well and he was a very fine writer.  He was never a hippie, but he was a teacher of hippies and he sympathized.  He was also very funny.  You can probably find him in the library, if you've got access to a good one; he ran The Iowa Writer's Workshop until about 1970 and he set his mark on a lot of pretty decent poets as well, without making any of them sound like him, which I think is one mark of a fine teacher of writing.  I think his war was Korea.

     If you get a chance, let me know, especially his war poems and his satires.

     And thanks so much for yours.

     I used to wear a medal that the priest at Metropolitan State Hospital used to Bless and give out to the patients and those who worked with them.  It was Our Lady of Mental Peace.  I used to sweat the silver off the outside until whatever the base metal was inside used to leave green stains on my chest.  I was quite superstitious about it and would exchange the old medal for a new one where the blessing hadn't been worn off by the clashes with evil and craziness all around me and, I was absolutely certain, inside me as well.  I must have gone through ten of them over the years.  Good and evil were in an active contest there, as I suppose they still are.

     Your poem brought me back.  Thank you for that.

Bob Kaven

Toerag
Member Ascendant
since 1999-07-29
Posts 5622
Ala bam a
11 posted 2010-05-19 08:00 AM


I was a hippie. Balladeer was already an old man don't let him fool ya. He's so old the Dead Sea wasn't even sick yet when he was born. I'm still a Hippie I guess. Don't smoke dope anymore, think that last "Chokin" Red Lebanese Hash stuck with me. It won't hurt ya won't hurt ya won't hurt ya though....poem well done. Peace love and blacklights...
Sunshine
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since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
12 posted 2010-05-19 01:36 PM


Jeff,

I would have never guessed you to be old enough to proclaim yourself a hippie. I grew up during that time, a bit young to join the "beat", but I have to agree with some of the others; it changed a lot and shifted the world a bit from the axis it had been on ... and yes, produced a great deal of memorable music.

Thanks for this...you wear that necklace proudly, y'hear?


Eusta B. Mae
Senior Member
since 2010-05-03
Posts 903

13 posted 2010-05-19 04:02 PM


Hippie is where the heart is!  We could use a little more of that 'tude today. You poem was Out of sight ! ebm
Martie
Moderator
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since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
14 posted 2010-05-19 05:55 PM


Peace and love from a flower child...
Dadygoose
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since 2010-01-01
Posts 162
A Communist country
15 posted 2010-05-19 10:03 PM


Taking shape and gathering speed is a cataclysmic eruption that will be Biblical in magnitude, a political backlash that will be sudden and violent.  It will be fueled by the appalling outrage and revolution felt by millions toward the totalitarian and may I say Godless version of Marxist paradise that is being imposed on us.
When we are again attacked, and we will be, and should a plot be uncovered to nuke Staten Island, vaporizing millions in their offices or in their sleep, the people of this country will know what to do with the new Marxist god, Obama.  And they will do it swiftly and with the same quiet and uncompromising anger that this nation has always shown each time it has been attacked by brutal savages that care nothing for human life and civilization.
Or, for that matter, for the blood of millions of those unborn babies.
Still, I hope we will survive, and perhaps in the 2060’s we can do the hippie thing all over again.
Now, wouldn’t that be cool?

Dadygoose

Hey, nobody's human!

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
16 posted 2010-05-19 10:41 PM


Yo Jeff,

This poem has a nice idea about it.  I'm afraid I never had time to be a hippie as I was always busy working the street, but I think it would have been fun.

Bobby

threadbear
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since 2008-07-10
Posts 817
Indy
17 posted 2010-05-21 05:20 AM


wOW, I'm overwhelmed with y'all's support!  I wasn't sure if I would be critiqued to death or not! hehehe

Yeah, I'm 53 years old, don't look it, never grayed (much) but I do have 5 great grandkids!  Somewhere on this page is a poem about one of them.

Question everything
It was a special and rare time in American history.  I'm suprised I'm alive to tell the tale (altho hard drugs were never part of my life.)
thanks y'uns,
for your warmth and kindness
to a not yet obsolete hippie.
Jeff

nakdthoughts
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since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200
Between the Lines
18 posted 2010-05-21 06:48 AM


you must have been a very young hippie~~




M

threadbear
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19 posted 2010-05-21 07:41 AM


Hi Maureen!  How's my favorite Penn-y?
Back in 69 I was 13, and was the lead singer in a band with 3 members 17-18 years old.  We played in a hippie section of town closely resembling Greenwhich Village.  The wonderful music of the era sucked me into the movement, which didn't die off until the early 80's here in the hippie town of Broad Ripple.  We had peace-ins, sit-ins, raft races, outdoor festivals every weekend: sigh....a great time, even though my buddies could drink, and I couldn't.  

But the core values of helping each other, caring for the underdog, not being mean, thinking of others first:  these are the things i learned and still try to practice.  
....ramblin on...sorry about that, Maur,
p.s. loved your writeup in the Alley about education.  Wanted to tell ya '4 I forgot.
Jeff

ken206573
Member
since 2008-10-14
Posts 487

20 posted 2010-05-21 02:43 PM


I was not even born yet in this era, but I trully like the hippie. Your poem speaks wonders and truth on the matters of the world...love and peace man.


Namyh
Senior Member
since 2009-01-20
Posts 988

21 posted 2010-05-21 05:04 PM


threadbare - Ahhh! I remember it well. Thanks for reminding me. Namyh
Larry C
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since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286
United States
22 posted 2010-05-31 07:40 PM


Excellent and fun write!
1slick_lady
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since 2000-12-22
Posts 6088
standing on a shadow's lace
23 posted 2010-06-01 02:32 AM


I don’t know if I use to be a hippy…
grew up on janice, jimmy, jim,
james taylor, carly simon,
heard “whipping post”
“hasten down the wind”
and “running on empty”
every morning before school
“landslide” was my favorite song
joni mitchell is my all time fav
don’t know if I was then but…
at 53 now--- I sure think
I must be one now
(tired of paying for the tea and not being invited to the garden party)

Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
24 posted 2010-06-01 07:21 AM


quote:
I'm looking for a hero in a Senate full of spam.



Only a few people with pure intents make it ever into any government ... sadly.

Enjoyed your thoughts and the personality that you display.

I also love the necklace and the value you give it.

Love and peace!

Margherita

Mysteria
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British Columbia, Canada
25 posted 2010-06-01 12:45 PM


You know who was the original hippy?  Kacy, our Midnitesun!  She was a very special person I tell you and she was stuck in the 70's.

I too am still a hippy at heart, and always will be fighting for causes or people I guess.  I don't have a necklace, but I sure have a beautiful peace sign tattoo on my cheek from my 70's run.  However, no one sees it anymore as my bikini days are long over!

Great poem threadbear.

threadbear
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since 2008-07-10
Posts 817
Indy
26 posted 2010-06-02 12:31 PM


Y'all are great, and glad I could strike a chord of memory in some.
Even though we have all gone through some crazy personal times, there are lessons to be remembered from them.
Thank you so much, for allow me to share some of my life's brightest moments with you.
Jeff

LindsayP
Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria
27 posted 2010-06-05 12:51 PM




A real thought proker this one Jeff, it

brings back a lot of memories. you wrote it well. Take care my friend.

Lindsay

LindsayP
Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria
28 posted 2010-06-05 12:52 PM




A real thought proker this one Jeff, it

brings back a lot of memories. you wrote it well. Take care my friend.

Lindsay

LindsayP
Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria
29 posted 2010-06-05 09:32 PM



Great poem Jeff, much enjoyed.

Take care.

Lindsay

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