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Tuesday, August 22, 2017

OPEN WINDOW













From my book: DARWIN'S MOON

the cars
rumble past
and from their
open windows
you hear cackling
or cussing
or some kind
of rap crap
an angry young man
shoutin' bout
bitches and hos
with his finger up his nose
I'm tired of hearing
the angry young man
through your open window
don't care if he's black
or white
I've been that guy
the rallies
and the marches
righteous indignation
like you wouldn't believe
students commandeering
the dean's office
and getting dragged
out by their heels
do you know
how that feels?
there was Haldeman
Erlichman
and Dean
and student bodies
lying dead
on the campus green
hey
at least we stood
for something
besides gangsta worship
all the angry young men
who don't know
what they're mad about
every generation sees
them come and go
you don't live
in the ghetto
and the only thing
you have
to complain about
is your pants
are falling down
and I'm tired
of hearing the
angry young man
railing
through your open window
you think you've got
something to prove
but in truth
you've got nothing to lose
but your youth
so convinced
that you'll always be
the malcontent
but I'll tell you what
it all comes to naught
and a house
in the suburbs
in the end


54 comments:

  1. powerful stuff!

    as usual, great one shot :)

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  2. Oh, so relatable work - though my middle-aged epiphany (which emotionally happened at age thirty) was the realization that I'd rebelled against cultural styles, NOT substance (LOL).

    Kids' music are punishments for jacktard attitudes that we had when we were their age. Same old song and dance, different technology and dynamics. . .

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  3. A lot of strong visuals throughout. Biting satire. But all kids think they know everything, generation after generation.

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  4. Very very clever sir. I often think if some of the children I taught, the "hoodies" of Wales ever end up with 2.4 kids, or in prison. Kids will be kids ;)

    Shan
    @awdures

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  5. Ah yes. We have all been that rebel. So immortal and narcicistic. Empath still won't make me like rap. Great post.

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  6. God, ain't it the truth. We were gonna solve all of it 'cause there were so many of us, smart as whips, the answer to war widow prayers, and what did we do...sell out for comfort and a house somewhere. We all relate to this.

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  7. I love this! It amazes me what kids today consider to be not fair and worth fighting for.

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  8. The more things change, the more they remain the same - the young rebel, grow up and buy into the status quo. I enjoyed reading this - and these lines brought a smile:

    "you don't live
    in the ghetto
    and the only thing
    you have
    to complain about
    is your pants
    are falling down
    cuz they're too baggy "

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  9. Maybe their lack of a cause is the cause of their lack.

    As always, Tim, truly enjoyed.

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  10. ERIC, GABRIELA, STEVE, POEMBLAZE, REPRESSED SOUL, MONKEY MAN, BEACHANNY,TERESA, MAROUSIA, GUATAMI, TALON...Thanks gang...comments well appreciated!

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  11. thought-provoking post. conformity as children, rebellious as teens, and then back to a life of conformity...hmmmm...

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  12. stand up and take a mighty bow.........in the uk we have too many similar problems...the causes they fight for are for what...the gang...and in the end it either kills you, imprisons you or wastes your life...and if you escape you escape to what? at least, as you rightly say, when we were young the causes were real...you stirred something in me here...and you are so right coz at then end of the day we settle in our homes and life just like any other 40+ year old..we look back at ourselves and wonder..what did we achieve...thanks pete

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  13. Passion of youth...they have reasons to be unhappy as do adults...we are all so far from home...brilliant writing as always Tim

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  14. Power packed interpretaion of the currents. It happens.

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  15. SHE,
    That's the pattern, isn't it?

    PETE,
    Thanks for your take on this. I still believe we fought the good fight...

    LORRAINE,
    Far from home...true...but it's right there in our hearts.

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  16. Dear Timoteo
    I enjoyed this one so much.. Thanks for sharing..

    ॐ नमः शिवाय
    Om Namah Shivaya
    Twitter: @VerseEveryDay
    Blog: http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com

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  17. I found myself angrily remembering the guy on the motorcycle from a couple of days ago with his loud music. I wanted to yell something at him, like "shut the friggin thing off!!." but wisely just nurtured my own resentment.

    I love love love the way you end this. It puts the whole thing in perspective. And I do agree that the young and angry men (and women) of the 60's had more depth or soul than motorcycle guy and those about whom you write.

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  18. Happens with every generation, doesn't it? The tortured, the victim, the nobody-understands-me -- or so they think. And we all hope they come out of this angry phase alive...most do...others, well, they either get themselves killed or they never outgrow it.

    Very strong and effective, Timoteo.

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  19. You said it!It's an endless vicious cycle!

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  20. thanks for reading my "epic" and this is terrific-- I go back to those Kent State days and this is a message, your poem, many should hear. Thanks! xJenne'

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  21. but we block knowledge from the heart, out of fear, we've been so hurt

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  22. oh wow! this was food for thoughts - liked the open window scenery - perfect for this! yes!

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  23. Bravo. You wrote my past, and my present agrees totally.

    It reminds me of a NYC cabbie (one actually born in the US) telling me about his youthful hippie days, "hanging out in the Haight" and "railing against the military-industrial complex." He was clean-shaven, short-haired, and well-spoken. And my age.

    I said, "And look at you now."

    "Yeah, well," he said, "life happens."

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  24. Your poem is like a wonderful rap song that truly does have a message....but every young man has to learn the hard way...it is what we humans tend to do. Love this poem Timoteo! :-)

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  25. I knew a lot of those kids. And for a lot of them, I wish suburbia had been probable.

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  26. LORRAINE,
    Eventually, we must put old hurts behind us and carry on, willing to risk the hurt again...if we've retreated and gone into a shell because of old hurts, we have stopped LIVING!

    KOBICO,
    True, some don't make it as far as suburbia, but I think that can be a reflection of a lack of substantive ideals...if one has no guiding principles, one can easily lose his/her way.

    JERRY, SHASHI, ARLENE, BELINDA, SUZICATE, RIVER, CLAUDIA, PATTI KEN, CARRIE BURTT...your astute comments are well appreciated!

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  27. Word!
    I think there's still things to be an angry malcontent over (or at least slightly annoyed like at a mosquito).

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  28. Oh this poem is sure speaking the truth! Fantastically inspired, and it just flows and rolls off the tongue. Love the baggy pants line (what IS that about - it is not a prety look!) I love it all - every word, every line. Especially the last two, hee hee. Wonderful writing! My favorite poem today!

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  29. super brilliant piece.

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  30. OCDBLOGGERGIRL,
    True...or that itchy underwear!

    SHERRY,
    I thank you, and my inflated ego thanks you!

    LEON,
    Thank ye, Sire.

    JINGLE,
    Good to see you--you're looking well!

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  31. I just read a column by David Brooks and this is a quote that made me think about this quote:

    But throughout history the wiser minds have understood that anger and moral posturing are not a good antidote to rage and fanaticism. Competing vitriols only build on each other.

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  32. Very apropos. And we've seen a lot of it lately, haven't we?

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  33. Oh, WOW! And even more relevant today, with the worst specimen in the white house. Fantastic write, kiddo!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, kiddo. It does seem the more things change the more they stay the same.

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  34. Nuttin' changes does it? Or maybe it does and we should worry more...
    "...but I'll tell you what
    it all comes to naught
    and a house
    in the suburbs
    in the end"
    And so it does, except for the angry old men and women with hatred in their bellies, who continue to carry their poisonous torches, despite suburbia...
    Anna :o]

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    1. ANNA--your last sentence is a killer (pardon the pun!) I know some of these angry codgers as well. Many others are in positions of great power.

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  35. It has to be said
    We Were Fabulous
    and the current generation
    Well...they are not :)
    We are still interesting
    and if they survive to our age
    the world is going to be very boring
    My advice to the younger generation is
    to sleep with as many books as you can
    Thousands if necessary.

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    1. Books are better when read in bed. Just thought I needed to mention this in case my advice was misinterpreted.

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    2. We WERE fabulous, weren't we dahling? Yes, books are better in bed, but then so many things are :)

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  36. Oh, that ending... such a long way from what the think it's going to be.

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    1. It's an observation that comes from hindsight, which we don't have the benefit of in our youth, and so can't imagine ourselves ending up essentially like our parents in many ways, but most of us do.

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  37. If we must protest, make it count for something before the suburbs swallows us. :)

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    Replies
    1. I second that, Susie. Motion carried (forward, hopefully!)

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  38. I too am tired of all the angry young (and old) men ranting and raving about something stupid...good write. Toni Spencer is Kanzensakura

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  39. https://www.youtube.com/embed/6sL6WrWHkhw?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" ... Love, cat.

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    1. For some reason, links don't work on my site anymore...crying

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  40. Really enjoyed this... perhaps because I'm just the right age to get it.

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    Replies
    1. Yep, it helps if you've "been there done that" as we have :)

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