I can hear it, the thumping bass drum,
The rhythmic tapping of the high hat,
The droning pounding of the
Keyboard bass,
The choppy, distorted guitar
Grinding out a path to revolution.
Then musings on loving a girl,
A wild child, grace-filled,
Dancing naked in the desert—
A peyote dream of rebellion—
The celebration was about to begin.
But it never really did, did it?
The screaming poet sings of numbers
That could rise like skyscrapers
Changing the lopsided landscape—
A wet dream
Absorbed by the sock of sadistic suffering
Held by babies who boomed and made “love”—
Had kids—
Felt the fears fomenting frigidly
In their hearts—now black obsidian—
Hardened by the promises of gangrene scraps
Tossed to the dogs of dereliction.
Agent orange has left the jungle
For jaded hippies, cutting down the army
To one out of five.
The numbers that once were are no longer,
Those who started the rebellion
Have become
Turncoats—
Forgotten hopes of a bygone age
Where progress was demanded—
Progress—it has been lynched,
Strung up by those who set it free
From bondage.
Five to one has become one out of five.
As for me, born in a later age—
I keep the screaming, drunk poet’s words
Alive.
“When the doors of perception are cleansed, man will see things as they truly are—infinite.” —William Blake
©2024 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.
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Author:
Tristan Robert Lange (
Offline) - Published: December 13th, 2024 07:46
- Category: Sociopolitical
- Views: 27
- Users favorite of this poem: Teddy.15, rebellion_in_sanity, cellinic
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Comments12
There making progress, and it speeds up going downhill.
Not the kind of progress I am hoping for. As I see it, things are going quite backwards, not forward...and downhill speeds up both ways. That said, I truly appreciate your time and thoughts, my friend! Here's to a better future, regardless! 🙏🖤
We need a handbrake on life, then a reverse gear and then we might be going in the right direction. Another enjoyable read Tristan, thank you
Boy, you are correct about that! 💯 Thank you Tobani, for your read and your insights! Much appreciated, my friend! 🙏✌️❤️
You are very welcome
Beautiful words and fantastic lines of poetic understanding. A lovely poem that makes its point.
Thank you Soren! I am glad the point was effectively delivered as I have been musing on this reality for some time, and I have been listening to The Doors, as I often do, and Five to One came on and really hit home in terms of the musing I have been doing! LOL! Thank you again for the time and the feedback. Great music continues to speak even if the masses stop listening to it. For that...and your support...I am truly grateful, my friend! ❤️🙏✌️
Somehow brought me back to thoughts of the Vietnam War and all other such sociopolitical upheavals that twisted and defined generations. I lost my cousin and best friend during the Gulf War in which he did 2 tours. I’m sure the poems apply to several other things but that stood out to me for some reason.
Actually, friend, you are very close indeed. I was listening to the Doors, as I am want to do, and Five to One came on off of Waiting for the Sun. That song was about revolution and resisting the status quo, including going to an unnecessary war (Vietnam at that time), stating that there were five as many young people as there were older people, meaning that the youth could rise up and resist those in power (the older generations) who were keeping the status quo locked place. Well, fast forward to now, the status quo is being held in place, in fact...major reversals to progress are taking place...in large part by the generation that started resisting the status quo in the first place. Grim irony. Anyway, thank you for the read and the time it took to process and analyze. I truly appreciate you, my deep and artistic friend! ❤️🙏 As for your cousin, I am truly thankful for his service and sorry that he lost his life during one of our many shared wars. That saddens me, always. 😥
Thanks man. Yeah, he was with the 101st. As for us, we’re all still under the thumb of the Boomers, it would seem.
Boy, ain’t that the truth! 😳 You are welcome my dear friend! ✌️🙏
Excellent write Tristan
Thank you so much Tony! ❤️🙏 I knew you would get this! ✌️😊
You're welcome Tristan
Good write T.
Thank you, kind sir! 🙏❤️✌️
Unbelievably beautiful powerful and your reeled me in to every line. Superb dear Tristan. 🌹
Thank you so much dearest Teddy, from the bottom of my heart! ❤️ I know you get the references and the meaning,, my dear dear friend. Not sure if you are a Doors fan…I am (and, poetically, Jim is a huge influence) and I can only imagine what Jim would be writing if he were alive, may he rest peacefully. ✌️ Anyway…all of that to say, thank you Teddy for your words of support and encouragement! 🙏❤️ I even leave you a 🌹 my fellow poet and artist! Our poetic friendship is a blessing to me!
This is rich and complex, Tristan. Seems your piece has thrown up many different feelings in the debate here - including some of mine. Can’t help but agree with the general tenor of your depiction of the movement change over several generations. Can’t help but agree with the overall ‘progress’. The only point I feel impelled to make is that categorized generalisations are dangerous if they extend themselves beyond poetic limits. The Boomers (and I’m not one) were as much subjected to political control as any other generation. Some (perhaps almost the majority) fell into line (including going to war) but many did not.
But I think I can agree on the main point: it all seems to be going down the gurgler now.
Take care of yourself.
Outside of poetry, I agree on over-generalizations, my friend. Big time. That said, poetry oft relies on generalizations and exaggerations to prove a larger point. Indeed, I am glad you raised that up because, not everyone has the capacity (is that fair?) to understand that very fine point you make, Dave. I do not disagree, but find we are very much on the same page. Truthfully, I could write the same thing of my own generation of (former) cynics (GenXers) who are falling in line too. The way it works I suppose…hopefully never me. 🤞✌️Thank you, Dave, for your time, as well as your wisdom! 🙏❤️
Certainly on the same page, Tristan. Thanks for taking it all seriously.
Be careful not to bang your head on the brick wall too much, Tristan!
😂 No head banging here, friend. The Doors aren’t that kinda band! ✌️ Thanks for reading and commenting! 🙏❤️
A powerful poem
and I agree! 👍
We're on an uphill
battle definitely! 😢
Great read my friend
penned superbly!! 🎖️
Best regards ✌️ Thad
We certainly are my friend! Thanks for the tome and the feedback Thad. Glad it resonated! Much appreciated,, always! 🙏❤️✌️
WOW! I don't know if it is a poem or a painting where disparate segments are made into a whole by the skilful artist. Perception - the grave of reality. "Loved it" sounds too lame, but my limited vocabulary can't drege up any suitable adornment.
Wow! Thank you so much, friend! I really appreciate your read and your feendback. I’ll take “Loved it!”, 🤣 but certainly understand and truly appreciate the sentiment. I am humbled by your words, truly, fellow poet and artist! ✌️🙏❤️
Poem well-done, easily and eagerly faved, my friend!
Awww! Thank you so much, Cellinic! Your time, read, fave and comment are all very much appreciated, my friend! Thank you so much! ❤️🙏
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