Richard Lamoureux Poet Free verse

Change Aint Easy

Change Aint Easy

We thought it was so simple back then
Things didn't need to have to make sense
different words were okay, 
yep green on both sides of the fence
We just played
I was a boy
you were a girl
My hair straight yours had a bit of curl
Jumping on pogo sticks
feeling dizzy when we'd twirl
Boy things, girl things?
Forget it, let's follow that squirrel

Today kids gotta be gender neutral free
No labels, no siree
He's not a him and she aint a she
No one knows for sure who they might be
maybe somewhere in the middle or all three

I remember boys and girls climbing trees
hopscotch, jump rope and skinned knees
We'd pretend to sail the seven seas
Little kids didn't know about birds and the bees
We didn't have the politically correct disease
Yep, we were more interested in running with the breeze
Playing outside in sunshine 
or even when it would freeze

Just kids building forts
Playing cowboys and Indians in our shorts
Using pieces of wood as racquets
on the tennis court
playing with snakes and toads
unconcerned with warts   
Our biggest worry
was bringing home our school reports

Yes, I understand the world is changing
It's time to point fingers and start blaming
The past generation needs shaming
We're toothless fierce
But somehow 
we still need taming
trying our best but lacking training
No need to worry 
the old ways are fading
Now it's okay 
if it's us you're hating
In time you'll be old 
and with the new young you'll be debating.
I'll be long gone 
Hopefully you won’t be complaining
Yep, change can be awfully frustrating... 




Note: I put myself in an older person’s shoes and tried to imagine how things have changed since the 40s and 50s. The landscape has changed quite a bit since then. Each subsequent generation will look back and think their time was the good old days and the next generation will need to put their stamp on the world. Then their time will end, and the following generation will think they had it all wrong. As long as we keep trying hopefully we'll get more right than wrong.

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Vladislav Raven November 5, 2018 at 10:33 AM Hi Richard, this is an excellent write that encompasses your subject. The changes are just coming too quickly for me. All this political correctness, it's a wonder kids know what or who they are. In my day things were so much simpler as your poem does say. I love the content Richard, right on the money. Well, life is changing, but is it changing for the better. Have a wonderful Monday. Your friend always....Mike.

Vegter Papyrus August 18, 2018 at 2:57 AM This is all blue flame! And it's everywhere; this confusion. It's a sin for a killer to kill; because of free will. So, it applies to those who choose indulge in free will with this also. In a few years we'll be weird for being straight!!! Richard Lamoureux August 18, 2018 at 7:57 AM It’s interesting, before we would have to accomplish something before we would take pride in it.

Nathan D. December 25, 2017 at 3:25 PM 5hanks for reminding me I'm old lol. The new generation always sucks compared to the last

FJ Thomas December 14, 2017 at 10:57 AM It really does seem that kids are no longer able to just be kids. And change can be very hard depending on the person and circumstance. I also appreciated your end note.

Laurice S. December 7, 2017 at 8:34 AM I hate change! I constantly miss my childhood. Loved this poem <3 Richard Lamoureux December 7, 2017 at 8:38 AM Thanks Laurice.

Joanna Daniel December 3, 2017 at 6:45 AM Excellent truth brought about in this poem, Richard, I like your simplistic style of writing with rhyme thrown in :) but I do think that those days with not much technology was really better :) Richard Lamoureux December 3, 2017 at 11:26 AM Thanks Jo.

Chris Hagy December 2, 2017 at 7:36 PM This is excellent! I grew up in the 70"s and 80's and also had a "dysfunctional" family situation. And even I think things are weird now... although us teenagers seemed "totally" weird to our parents "for sure"! haha :) Love the author's note too.

Unfamiliar Flower December 2, 2017 at 7:59 AM so true and so good!!!! I truly do wish with time things didn't change but sadly they do change to not so much the best... those days you speak of are happy days were kids today and tomorrow will never get to feel or know Richard Lamoureux December 2, 2017 at 8:20 AM Growing up with an abusive father I never experienced the good old days. I think for people of colour, or gay people and for many women they also were not the good old days, in reality many people will idealize the past. The longer the period of time the better it was.

Freddie Robinson Jr. December 2, 2017 at 4:27 AM Amen! Very well-said, Richard. Such a socially relevant inked statement of truth and faith for the future gen. As long as God-fearing parents do their part in raising them to be tolerant of the diversity of humankind. Wonderful thought-provoking poetry. Shooting star bright write. Love and more love always. Richard Lamoureux December 2, 2017 at 8:15 AM Thanks Freddie, once again you make my day with your eloquent comment.

Silent One November 30, 2017 at 3:15 PM You did this very well Richard... Excelelnt. Richard Lamoureux December 1, 2017 at 1:22 AM Thanks Silent.

Anne-Lise Andresen November 30, 2017 at 1:56 PM - A wonderful poem with meaning, Richard ... many different chapters in life ... looking back can give you a smile, how easy everything seems to be - But, we all change over the years ... I hope and believe we will become wiser ... and appreciate life more - The world today is more complicated ... everything is changing - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Richard Lamoureux December 1, 2017 at 1:37 AM Thanks Anne-Lise. I don’t envy our young people, the world is moving faster than anyone young or old can keep up with.

Laura Leiser November 29, 2017 at 8:26 PM Wonderful insight about generational change here in your creatively written poem, Richard. I’m tired of all the political correctness and long for the past times of innocence...! Richard Lamoureux November 30, 2017 at 8:28 AM Thanks Laura, I don’t think things were ever as innocent as we idealize them. Racism was rampant, women’s rights were deplorable and those are but a few of our sins. Our world has been in need of forgiveness for a very long time.

Anna Hopper November 29, 2017 at 2:15 PM I enjoyed this. The older I get, the more interested I become with time and change Richard Lamoureux November 29, 2017 at 4:23 PM Thanks Anna.

Connie Marcum Wong November 29, 2017 at 1:26 PM What used to be common is now uncommon but I have found that grandchildren listen and are eager to hear about our youth. After they reach the teen years they know it all. Lol. The changes that are good are that kids don't ridicule their different classmates as much and are more accepting. Of course there are still the bullies. A great poem you have written and I enjoyed remembering! Richard Lamoureux November 29, 2017 at 4:24 PM I’m pleased you enjoyed it Connie.

Line Gauthier November 28, 2017 at 10:25 PM I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, Richard. Delightful imagery and so many good points brought up. Terrific overview. Thank you. Richard Lamoureux November 30, 2017 at 8:29 AM Thanks Line.:0)

Andrea Dietrich November 28, 2017 at 6:51 PM oh you are so right. Each generation remembers their youth as better. Profound and wonderful read. Richard Lamoureux November 29, 2017 at 4:30 PM Thanks Andrea. We live in a hot spot in Canada, very little snow and very dry in the summer.

Andrea Dietrich November 28, 2017 at 6:49 PM first replying to what you said. I'd come to Canada for the health care but I'm cold enough here. haha. Let me read your poem now.

Adeniji Toluwalope Gideon November 28, 2017 at 3:54 PM Whao! My eyes are fed with the beauty of each line. Change is constant. On occasions we wish we could turn back the hand of time. Well said, Richard Richard Lamoureux November 30, 2017 at 8:30 AM Thanks Adeniji. For me I prefer that time keeps moving forward.

Eileen Manassian November 28, 2017 at 3:38 PM Great poem, Richard. Honestly, it was a much simpler time. It's easy to offend now. I know even with my own daughter some of my views seem outdated. I learn so much from her. This is a fantastic write. I really like it. I'm going away for a few days. You asked me to let you know when I blog. I have a blog up. Give it a read if you have a few minutes. Hugs Richard Lamoureux November 30, 2017 at 8:32 AM Heading back again to check out the other two:0)

Eve Roper November 28, 2017 at 10:44 AM I like what you wrote born in the 50ths things were different change is hard. Richard Lamoureux November 30, 2017 at 8:32 AM Thanks for the visit Eve.

Vijay Pandit November 28, 2017 at 7:00 AM You said it well--a thoughtful reflection on how generations think of each other--a unique theme--well done Richard! Richard Lamoureux November 28, 2017 at 7:28 AM Thanks Vijay. This came to mind after listening to a radio show where people no longer want to be referred to by him or her. They want people to use a gender neutral pronoun. I found the whole concept to be quite interesting and tried viewing it from different perspectives.

Rhoda Tripp November 28, 2017 at 4:37 AM There is so much truth here and I have so much to say on this topic that I'm sending a soup mail. Hope you don't mind. Great write, Richard. It sure gets the reader lost in thought. Richard Lamoureux November 28, 2017 at 7:24 AM Hi Rhoda, I look forward to your soup mail and hearing your thoughts.

Susan Ashley November 27, 2017 at 8:21 PM Richard, your theme was beautifully expressed on the simplicity of our youth compared to complexity of today's youth, and dealing with the resulting generation gap.. a very intriguing and compelling write. Enjoyed! Richard Lamoureux November 28, 2017 at 7:38 AM Thanks Susan. I think one of the biggest advances and hinderence is the proliferation of cell phones and tablets. We are more connected and isolated then at any other time in history. We are exchanging the real thing for an illusionary intimacy. Depression and anxiety in young and older people is at record levels.

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart November 27, 2017 at 7:52 PM Honestly I wanted to stay in the first four stanzas :) well said my friend xomo Richard Lamoureux November 28, 2017 at 7:39 AM Thanks Maureen.:0)

Jan Allison November 27, 2017 at 6:32 PM Such an insightful poem, you are such a wise man Richard! No wonder the young people today are confused especially regarding their gender and a couple of years ago we had 2 transgender students at our school - how times have changed and we have to move with the times (even if we disagree with it) hugs jan xx Richard Lamoureux November 27, 2017 at 6:38 PM In the end people will be who they choose. I for one will take people as they are and feel entirely unqualified to judge their choices. Thanks for the visit and hug Jan. Hugs Rick.

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