Lament on the Baby Boom Poem

a lament
on the baby boom
1986

most
understood naught
most
followed the lot
most
could barely walk
and now
understand no more

remember when truth
had to be told
remember when you
where young and bold

there may be a few
left
but Reagan won
what Nixon lost
and more

are you sure
you can't be old and bold
are you sure
you haven't already been told
don't you know (or remember)

and then again
working on the war
baby boomers generation
think it's m...m...m...my generation
but not any more

twist and shout
who remembers
what it's all about

ding dong the witch is dead
wicked ole witch
the witch is dead

or is she

cut your hair
shine your shoes
wear no polyester
go for money and health food

oh my god
who says these absurd words
not the parents of the baby boom
not the hippie - oh yeah the yuppie
the baby boom parents
the original (revised original)
plastic clay model conservative
who makes Agnew the saint directive

please come to chicago
or join the other side
notice how quiet
chicago is
these days
'cept for the black mayor
and his organized opponites
yuppies in disquise
as human beings

and who
who are you
to call others a name
you thought they'd
never avow

oh those were the days
we were young and unafraid

so now why are they all
afraid

twist and shout
there are still a few
who would rather be out-
cast and broke and poor
than to forget
what it was all for

remember war:
ever watched television
about the big war
remember the vietnam war
remember what we were there for
-in the big war
-in the vietnam war
-in any war
did you go

hell no we won't go

suppose they gave a war
and nobody came

Reagan would

and John Lennon died
and everybody quit try-
ing

oh me, oh my
are you alive
what is your dedication

a peace movement
must be when we're not at war
too

it's time for the country
are you ready to go

hell no
we won't go

'druther have the city
with concrete and steel
atrium ceilings
and laser disk players
make money
look stylish
clean fingernails

stuff that's important
like a new car
and power
we want power
long life and sex

what's this you said
flowers
oh my wife plants those

what's this flower power

i prefer the stars
the universe
dirt roads and human beings

i see you as one like me
not competing against me
better keep your head

guess i'd rather be poor
broke and consistant
than a reagan
yuppie

oh well
"it's only castles burning"

i think farmers understand

never quit