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.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2022

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Rodrigues Avatar
February 28, 2022 at 7:56 AM
Great write and topic. Make love not war. Peace out.
Krutsinger Avatar
February 28, 2022 at 8:12 AM
This is my feeling
Hankins Avatar
February 27, 2022 at 5:26 PM
Yep, true. And some of that idealism resides still in my heart, and I suspect yours, too. The youth of today need a worthy cause to rally around. It is good for developing character and stamina.
Krutsinger Avatar
February 28, 2022 at 8:12 AM
I think we need to be screaming PEACE not WAR from our rooftops again
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