Oliver Mckeithan | + Follow Poet |
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The Day the Country Died

The Day the Country Died

November 22, 1963
three pm e.s.t
fifth grade 
pa speaker clicks on
“today, at one pm c.s.t
President Kennedy shot
he is dead”
our young substitute teacher
gasps then starts to cry
we are silent
school is dismissed early
buses home, no one speaks
our country has changed

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CayCay Jennings Date: 5/26/2025 5:25:00 PM First grade for me. I remember emotional impact followed by age 5 upset that the TV showed nothing else for what seemed like a long time. I clearly remember seeing his children, that stayed with me. BUT my ramblings don't diminish the feel-impact of your write (which also took me to homeroom where speakers talked every school morn.) I probably said not one thing you expected, me either ... CayCay Login to Reply Oliver Mckeithan Date: 5/26/2025 5:30:00 PM Thanks for reading CayCay. Glad my poem was able to stimulate a memory for you.

Andrea Dietrich Date: 5/25/2025 11:31:00 PM It died even before that, but that was sure the most obvious showing of it. Good one. I remember that day. I was around 8 Login to Reply Oliver Mckeithan Date: 5/26/2025 1:15:00 AM Thanks Andrea.

Gershon Wolf Date: 5/25/2025 9:00:00 PM Yes, indeed. The country died a little that day. It turned out to be the beginning of the end, which we are now approaching... I remember being in eighth grade, 2:01 CST, hearing the announcement over the P.A. system, followed by a few gasps,... and then the most tasteless joke I've ever told. Really. I turned beet-red. ~ Kam A Lot Login to Reply Oliver Mckeithan Date: 5/26/2025 1:16:00 AM I agree with you about approaching the end. We can be glad we lived most of our lives now. Thanks Gershon