We Were Idealists In 1969

Optimism pranced up and down in hip hugger bellbottoms Joy resonated from those who wanted peace not war Gratitude basked from the corners of those who had not been drafted It was 1969, and we were in our youth, full of confidence. Emotions ran high; the Viet Nam grayscales were ruining our news. We decided to buck the old ways, and begin anew, accepting everyone We did not adhere to the absolute musts of the fifties or sixties. We wore love beads and Nehru jackets, and smoked pot in cities. In our hand-embroidered blue jeans which had not been washed for days, We hitch-hiked to the promised land of California, or to New York City. We were full of idealistic ideas and ideals. We were the youth. We knew more than we had ever known in 1969.