When I Was Twentysomething 1980s

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I saw a man die who took a stance I saw he just wanted to give peace a chance I saw the boycotts and the embargoes I saw trafficking in human cargos I saw hedge funds, junk bonds, oil and gold I saw a woeful deficit in the Third World I saw a royal prince and princess in a carriage I saw a third person in their marriage I saw three days of music in the sun I saw time stand still as my head spun I saw a cowboy on the hill, a matinee idol I saw shots fired in a nation’s capital I saw helmets, a riot squad, a barricade I saw from the terraces a test match played I saw a new disease that affects us all I saw no one is immune to its deadly pall I saw a Nazi butcher, an act of unrepentance I saw him found guilty and sentenced I saw ash and dust turn day to night I saw it happen with a trembling might I saw a Young Turk in a war he could not win I saw alas the end of an era closing in I saw solidarity in a Polish shipyard I saw a changing of the guard I saw a new wave and I didn’t like it one bit I saw music and pop culture turn to sh-it I saw a great earthquake far and wide I saw the rubble with people inside I saw gas and poison leak in Bhopal village I saw them left to die and clean up the spillage I saw a hostage in a foreign land I saw a line drawn in the desert sand I saw an iron maiden order a fleet set sail I saw her resolute that she not fail I saw the world united for a day I saw the dead and dying motionless lay I saw myself travel back in time again I saw my journey end in Port of Spain I saw in the heavens a countdown to death I saw the stunned crowd hold its breath I saw clouds of death for miles around I saw a concrete tomb on the ground I saw uprising in the holy land I saw that the world needs a helping hand I saw seabirds and fish smothered in oil I saw leaking tankers the natural world spoil I saw frogmen and the Rainbow Warrior I saw it sinking in the harbour I saw the golden age of greed so brash I saw a bull run and then I saw a crash I saw an evil empire fracture and fall I saw its future written on a wall I saw peace in my time between east and west I saw the Nobel Peace Prize to that attest I saw a last revolt against state sponsored fear I saw it crushed in the People’s Square I saw my reflection in a dead pool I saw a dreamer, a pretender, and a fool I saw in my solitude a wonderful sight I saw I found a voice and began to write I saw in the mirror a living ghost I saw I was a slave to what I feared most I saw this decade through the eyes of a man I saw it end just like it began Written: May 2008

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