Best 1969 Poems

An all-but-empty Interstate stretches
straight, streaking horizon to horizon:
it is a ribbon with no bow, wrapping
northern Nevada. The eye fixes
on absent fences, looks for limits,
scans scenery overwhelmed by sky.
I cock my thumb to beg a ride;
a tear forms at the corner of my eye.
"Damn wind!"
I mutter,...

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The alarm clock sang out, my dad jumps up 
rushes me into the kitchen, today my love 
is indeed, a very special day for you, my eyes 
wide shut, as he continued, explaining civil rights
 
Cramming memories, into my little head I mean 
I'd remember...

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Two National League teams departed New York City
when the Dodgers and Giants left the vicinity.
Both teams went to California out on the West Coast.
The Big Apple was without a National League host.
An expansion four years later brought another team.
Newspaper editor Joan Payson fulfilled a dream.
Again,...

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a travel nightmare to remember
at age sixteen on a charter plane
to Colombia with the abusive boy friend
ten years older and few worlds of spanish
to meet my future as he put his hooks
and demands at my tender age of fourteen

on the return by myself with a...

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Minds slowly die with the
Draft from an open door,
And out they creep to see
If the current of air
Is stale....

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To replace - my cost of my call
I made this big card, special
for my sweet heart's, with all
my love, I do scribe for you...

Valentine's Day is special for a few
sending my love on our special day,
   is so very difficult for me to...

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Inspired by the enormous lithograph (a feat in itself) by
Robert Rauschenberg, entitled Sky Garden (Stoned Moon), 1969. The Stoned Moon series was created after a tour of NASA facilities and discussions of space travel at that time in history with the artist. The images very...

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JULY 1969 – Moon landing

There are no wolves
Astir tonight
To chill our fireside man
 
The wolves are gone
Are northward gone
From a disenchanted land

From where Maid Moon
Who winked at dreams
Has lost her apple eyes

Oh, someone’s plucked
The saucy dish
From out a virgin sky

Her lover’s cool
Bacterial breath
Has blued the...

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A man named Ai was sent to Gethen on a ship in the solar orbit, 
he was the first mobile who had the ability to mindspeak-
He spends two years in Karhide convincing them to join Ekumen,
as the nation was just about to reach their sanctioned...

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I’m riding shotgun in her car
as we drive through the night
neath Neil Armstrong’s moon
radio plays that Animal’s song
but San Francisco's almost as 
far from this humid Oklahoma 
night as Neil Armstrong’s cold
moon yet maybe I’ll get 
past second base tonight....

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“My Cousin Joan’s going to let Danny stay with her in Toronto, Honey.”

“Toronto?  What the holy hell are you talkin’ about, June?  Danny’s just finished college.  He’s not going anywhere.  What--he’s a draft dodger now?"

“It’s all arranged, Sam.  Our son’s...

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Flowers, flowers, flowers.
Man with all his powers.
Flowers, flowers, flowers....

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Lost in my youth coming from this old vinyl
groovin the grooves and riding the vibes
that take me back to
1969
 
Black lights, a strobe or two, 
share some smoke between me and you
back to when, hair was in
her hip huggers, my bell bottom jeans
and we know...

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Your soft, rose tinged 
and freckled cheeks 
so beautiful; aglow 

I still can see them,
though you were mine,
so very long ago

Your curls, a frame
of sunshine for a
shy and smiling face

Your tender heart
and gentle voice,
pure memories of grace 

Our sweaty palms,
our nervous laughs,
the sweetest agonies

Two hearts...

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monkey
playful friend
from Viet Nam
sent by loving soldier
60's...

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