Kerouac Dreams (redux…Happy Birthday Jack)

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Open Poetry #48

Kerouac Dreams (redux…Happy Birthday Jack)

icebox
Member Elite

since 2003-05-03

Posts 4383
in the shadows

0 posted 2012-03-12 12:21 PM

it was a century
just out of short pants
not yet long in tooth
when time ticked
radios hummed
phones were shared
TV was a toy for the rich
when presidents bought highways
strong enough to land heavy bombers
and government
hadn't yet tripped on a lie

it was a country
where half the roads still weren't paved
where license plates were essential
for driving in town
where air didn't come with conditions
where too many still dreamed
of real luxury
like toilets that flushed
indoors
of electricity that worked
every day

it was streets
with three dollar rooms
that were clean
two dollar women
fifty cent wine
twenty cent gas
and cigarettes
for five cents a pack

it was a place
where Bukowski could survive
on one candy bar a day
where getting drunk wasn't a choice
it was a religion
and the local bull thought he was liberal
for letting us choose
on which side of town
we were dropped off

it was a world
where growing up
meant getting by
where growing old
meant becoming invisible
like trash
in a garbage strike
in New York City
in the rain

©2007, 2012 by icebox

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

1 posted 2012-03-12 01:09 PM

I'm old enough to resemble much of Kerouac's Dreams. Had a two-seater before a bathroom was installed inside. Had that before we got a television. Yeah, uh huh, I resemble some of his dreams.

Good write.

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

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