John Fitzgerald Kennedy and the Best of Times

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Nathaniel Shain
Junior Member

since 2001-06-03

Posts 35

0 posted 2001-06-14 05:37 PM

John Fitzgerald Kennedy,
a proud Irish name.
I’ve been to your grave,
have seen
your speechwriter’s words
etched in marble.

So well you spoke them
that we tend to forget
they were not your own.

I watched live from my school room
as you were taken from us.
My teacher cried,
as did I.
You held such promise,
gave us hope
and reason to believe
in a better tomorrow.

The War was still young.
How were we to know
that it would one day
claim our friends and relatives?

We think back on those days
as the best of times.
Were they really?

The Beatles
and the British Invasion
were upon us
as your brother
Bobby was also taken.

Then, we lost
Martin Luther King,
a national treasure.

And let us not forget
Governor George Wallace,
who was to spend
the rest of his life
in a wheelchair in pain.

And let us not forget
Kent State.

While the War raged
seemingly without end,
man was to set foot
on that orb of light
that for thousands of years
brought fear to primitive minds
with its eclipses
and fed the imaginations
of romantic poets.

Was this truly the best of times?
Having lived it,
I think not.

Sven

Member Laureate

since 1999-11-23

Posts 14937
East Lansing, MI USA

1 posted 2001-06-14 09:28 PM

very powerful images here. . . having never lived through those times, I feel that you give us a good picture of them. . .

well done. . .

-----------------------------------------------------------

To the world, you may only be one person. But to one person, you may be the world.

Marge Tindal

Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-06

Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores

2 posted 2001-06-14 09:34 PM

Nathaniel~
This piece is a beautiful testament to the days of Camelot -
and lots more memories.
They were the best of times - at the time.
But surely tomorrow will be even better.

Thanks for sharing some momentous moments with us.
~*Marge*~

~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~
[email protected]

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

3 posted 2001-06-14 09:37 PM

each decade...

taking a moment of space

a time and place

making the best of times...

thank you for the memories...

I was there...

and more....

elizabeth anne
Member

since 2001-03-29

Posts 83

4 posted 2001-06-14 10:13 PM

I remember as you do.. but .. I'd still go back..

Elizabeth Anne

Lone Wolf
Member Ascendant

since 2000-03-16

Posts 5842
Lansing, MI USA

5 posted 2001-06-14 10:15 PM

As Dickens put it so well...

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"

Wonderful write. You ask some great questions.

All writing comes
by the grace of God.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

catalinamoon

Member Rara Avis

since 2000-06-03

Posts 9543
The Shores of Alone

6 posted 2001-06-14 10:18 PM

Chills. I remember the same times, I was in school when the announcement came about JFK. And walking home in a fog. Were the times better then? Not for leaders of this country, assuredly. But for the other parts, maybe. Good long philosophical question.
This sure did call up some vivid images.
Sandra

2dalimit
Member Elite

since 2000-02-08

Posts 2228
Mississippi coast

7 posted 2001-06-15 06:03 AM

You've certainly brought up some not so pleasant memories. They may not of been the best of times, but, looking back, they weren't as bad as today. Good write.

Melton

Nathaniel Shain
Junior Member

since 2001-06-03

Posts 35

8 posted 2001-06-15 05:56 PM

Sven,
Upon reading this poem again I realize that I left out the hippies and war protesters.  Oh well...it was getting kind of long anyway.  Thanks.

Marge,
In truth, I enjoyed those times, though sometimes fearful that they were.  Thanks

Sunshine,
Thank you for reading this piece.

Elizabeth Anne,
Know what?  I think I would also. Thanks

Lone Wolf,
Thank you for the visit and nice words.

Sandra,
I was also in class when an announcement came over the intercom for all teachers to turn on the television.  I couldn't believe what I was seeing.  It was such a sad day in this nation's history.  Thanks for reading.

Melton,
I brought up what anyone living then could vividly recall.  However, I didn't bring up the pleasant things.  All in all, I think I liked it better then.  There was a certain innocence back then that doesn't exist now.  Thanks.

Nathaniel

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