»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #17
»
Bridging The Gap
| Open Poetry #17 |
|
Bridging The Gap |
|
|
Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan 
|
turn on...tune in...take a drag the seventies brought us lack of trust the Vietnam war and Watergate bust with patriotism out of style we didn't trust our leader's wiles we questioned the need to fight a war our flower power was hard to ignore our parent's generation was the un-hip bourgeoisie but what we didn't know back then, our forbears could foresee they'd seen the great depression two world wars taught them hard lessons the generation gap increased in size we thought our elders most unwise but on a radiant September morn the gap was bridged as fear was born in the grips of fiery terror, orange streaks across the sky our aging flowers withered now, we no longer wonder why why our parents loved the stripes and stars we understood their unseen scars amongst the ashes, tears were shed war declared, six thousand dead the generations forged a bond of caring of truth and trust and tragic sharing the flower children's leaves have wilted our blossoms now are slightly tilted instead of proudly wearing rags the flower kids are wrapped in flags  copyright2001 Lyra Nesius "poetry is life distilled" Gwendolyn Brooks [This message has been edited by Madame Chipmunk (12-22-2001 12:12 PM).] |
||
| © Copyright 2001 Lyra Nesius - All Rights Reserved | |||
SEA 
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676with you |
I'm not a flower child, but I have always been patriotic....  I absolutely love this, I think it is about time folks had more pride in their country...it makes me happy to see so many flags. Your poem is FANTASTIC!! |
||
|
Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 (smiles) Oh my gosh, I love this vision, I wish I could live these times! (sigh) May the spirit of flower power and flag children forever shine in our hearts of love! (kiss on cheek) We all love you so much, sweet Lyra, this is a patriotic classic! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Lyra, thank you for sharing!  May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton |
||
|
Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
Thanks so much, Sea.....I remember those days very well and this generation seems so different than when I grew up. I remember flag burnings and anti-war protests. This was a horrific tragedy, but its nice to see the whole country and all of the generations pulling together.  copyright2001 Lyra Nesius |
||
|
Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
Thanks so much for your reply, Noah. I thought we lived in frightening times when I was growing up.  When I was in grade school, we were terrified of the bomb...we were sure that the Russians were going to come and blow us up. There were fallout shelters everywhere. Its no wonder that my generation grew up to be the flower children and that we rebelled  against the "establishement" the way we did.I don't think you would have wanted to go through that.  Although, I think these are even more frightening times than the sixties and seventies, I think that your generation is better off because your generation gap is so much smaller and the whole country is united against one cause right now. copyright2001 Lyra Nesius |
||
|
GenXer Senior Member
since 2001-12-15
Posts 583USA |
Lyra - I remember this excellent poem from Moontown. This poem is so true. Hopefully, this tragic event will bring people in this country together for many more generations to come. Except people from Michigan, we don't need them joining us.lol Dave |
||
|
ecrivan Member Elite
since 2001-12-10
Posts 3923my own state |
sad it is to say but don't think we can really bridge that gap people forget rather quickly and already many are have returned to their old routine of being their unsociable selves, only those who were directly involved..they have changed for the better I think..becoming more human. this is a nice poem and gets people to think though:0) |
||
|
Irish Rose Member Patricius
since 2000-04-06
Posts 10263 |
as someone who drove a beetle with a peace sigh, I can only say "oh yeah! I remember...." Kathleen (Kay) |
||
|
Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
We didn't have many flower children with us in 'Nam...weren't many welcoming us back, either....too busy passing out flowers, I guess.  |
||
|
Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
Whats this about people from Michigan, Dave? Why are you insulting the purveyors of the world's absolutely undoubtedly VERY BEST PIZZA which doesn't have all of that NY grease all over it? I absolutely....disagree with you! MICHIGAN PEOPLE RULE!!!!!    copyright2001 Lyra Nesius |
||
|
Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
Thanks Martin, but I disagree with you...I think the tragedy of Sept.11 has changed everyone in some way...and I think mostly for the good. I know that I now understand my parents' generation a lot better than I did before.  copyright2001 Lyra Nesius |
||
|
Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
Thanks Kay, I really didn't think you were that old.  But if you drove a bug and remember those peace signs...you must be. I, too....remember them well. copyright2001 Lyra Nesius |
||
|
Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
Hey Balladeer, I hope its not too late...but this old flower kid...welcomes you back! and here is a flower for you from me.  copyright2001 Lyra Nesius |
||
|
shoffswife Junior Member
since 2001-12-23
Posts 38KY, US |
Once again, I come and say that poem really made me stop and think. I don't remember the 70's, maybe that's because I wasn't around until 1980 lol. My husband is in the military and will go to war when he is called. It's so nice to see that people are still patriotic and supporting their country. From a military wife, Thank you so much. |
||
|
doreen peri Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812Virginia |
the values of hope for world peace and love will never die.... the world changed during vietnam era..... true there were many mistakes... the war itself was one of them... it was a war that couldn't be won... but at the same time, because of the climate of the country and the world and how it all was like an evolution of sorts, new awareness happened..... but then, as you say here in this very profound piece, people got all sort of numb to it all and now because of the tragedies that happened, there is yet another new awakening to the world only this time, it's global and i think it's like revolution, not just an evolution...... yeah, war will always be hard to understand...... none of it really makes sense...... but the world is coming to new awarenesses, growing, moving on.... becoming more one and..... oh god, i'm rambling.... but what i'm trying to say is something like this...... great pome chipmunk....... to me, you're the madame of the word tonight... so glad to finally have an opportunity to read you |
||
|
doreen peri Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812Virginia |
oh and btw... your last 2 lines... the couplet.... brought me chills and tears..... wonderful writing |
||
|
Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
Shelley, Thank you for your wonderful comments. Its interesting to get older and to look back on history. I remember the seventies like it was just yesterday. I still feel like that same hippie chick who went to peace rallies and protest marches...and almost got arrested for it. Now it is 30 years later and I am a grandmother......Treasure your years...they sure go by fast! copyright2001 Lyra Nesius |
||
|
Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
Thanks for your reply, doreen. War is horrible...it is true. But they say there is a reason for everything. The problem is.......the reason doesn't usually show up until the horror is forgotten. This time, I think we already know the reason. The horrible tragedy has brought so many people together. Its almost as if, out of this misery...a new awareness has been born. copyright2001 Lyra Nesius |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
