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"Last Seen Signals"
C. Steven Blue reads his '60s themed political poem, "Last Seen Signals"
at the Calyx political reading in Corvallis, Oregon on April 23, 2015.
C. Steven Blue reads his '60s themed political poem, "Last Seen Signals"
at the Calyx political reading in Corvallis, Oregon on April 23, 2015.
Last Seen Signals
I fight for what is not left
I fight for what went long ago
the smiling faces
flowers
long hair and bell-bottoms
of you
now only a faded view
left forgotten
in the memories of . . .
new wars
new scores
new reasons to be
afraid
by the many
the masses
no longer aware
how it could have been
had we just not
given in
to the many-numbered royalties
the commercialism cash cow
the callous concern
of corporate bottom lining
. . . until we're all scared for our jobs
no longer able to see
the possibility
that was at our fingertips
if only we could have held on
a little longer
persevered a little stronger
not been in such
a drug-induced haze
oh, the ways . . .
the ways of the world
the wonder now gone
replaced by hunger
the mad plans of melancholy
mentioned in passing
the last seen signals
. . . of the Sixties
Do you remember . . .
when Peace, Love & Brotherhood
were the current topics
of discourse?
Do you remember . . .
when government regulation was strong
enough
that air pollution standards
created cleaner air in Los Angeles,
and the big banks & Wall Street
operated with public scrutiny?
Do you remember . . .
when aerosol cans
started disappearing from store shelves,
replaced by pump sprays?
Do you remember why?
Do you remember . . .
"Truth In Advertising?"
Do you remember . . .
"The Fairness Doctrine,"
when opposing political views
had equal air time
by law?
Do you remember . . .
When telephone companies,
public utilities,
television, media,
airlines, health insurance
and banks
were not mega monolopy corporations,
and monopolies were broken up
by our government?
Do you remember . . .
when the Supreme Court
was fair and balanced
and politicians of opposing parties
actually worked together?
Do you remember . . .
when big money
didn't buy up
all of government?
Do you remember . . .
when public education
was important,
reliable,
affordable,
and funded?
Do you remember . . .
when teachers, firemen
and police officers
were important jobs,
with public support
for fair wages and benefits?
Do you remember . . .
when the average American family
could afford a house, a car
and a college education for their children?
Do you remember . . .
"Make Love, Not War?"
The 1960s was a paradigm shift
@ least
a brief moment
of truth
a glimpse of the Golden Age
the future that could be
if peace, love & brotherhood
really reigned in the world
In the 60s we saw that
the evolution of the human spirit
was possible.
We saw that living in harmony
with our fellow man
and Mother Nature
was doable . . .
But when you look around now,
it appears like we have forgotten
all of that.
I fight for what is not left
I fight for what went long ago
the smiling faces
flowers
long hair and bell-bottoms
of you
© C. Steven Blue 5/24/2014
I fight for what is not left
I fight for what went long ago
the smiling faces
flowers
long hair and bell-bottoms
of you
now only a faded view
left forgotten
in the memories of . . .
new wars
new scores
new reasons to be
afraid
by the many
the masses
no longer aware
how it could have been
had we just not
given in
to the many-numbered royalties
the commercialism cash cow
the callous concern
of corporate bottom lining
. . . until we're all scared for our jobs
no longer able to see
the possibility
that was at our fingertips
if only we could have held on
a little longer
persevered a little stronger
not been in such
a drug-induced haze
oh, the ways . . .
the ways of the world
the wonder now gone
replaced by hunger
the mad plans of melancholy
mentioned in passing
the last seen signals
. . . of the Sixties
Do you remember . . .
when Peace, Love & Brotherhood
were the current topics
of discourse?
Do you remember . . .
when government regulation was strong
enough
that air pollution standards
created cleaner air in Los Angeles,
and the big banks & Wall Street
operated with public scrutiny?
Do you remember . . .
when aerosol cans
started disappearing from store shelves,
replaced by pump sprays?
Do you remember why?
Do you remember . . .
"Truth In Advertising?"
Do you remember . . .
"The Fairness Doctrine,"
when opposing political views
had equal air time
by law?
Do you remember . . .
When telephone companies,
public utilities,
television, media,
airlines, health insurance
and banks
were not mega monolopy corporations,
and monopolies were broken up
by our government?
Do you remember . . .
when the Supreme Court
was fair and balanced
and politicians of opposing parties
actually worked together?
Do you remember . . .
when big money
didn't buy up
all of government?
Do you remember . . .
when public education
was important,
reliable,
affordable,
and funded?
Do you remember . . .
when teachers, firemen
and police officers
were important jobs,
with public support
for fair wages and benefits?
Do you remember . . .
when the average American family
could afford a house, a car
and a college education for their children?
Do you remember . . .
"Make Love, Not War?"
The 1960s was a paradigm shift
@ least
a brief moment
of truth
a glimpse of the Golden Age
the future that could be
if peace, love & brotherhood
really reigned in the world
In the 60s we saw that
the evolution of the human spirit
was possible.
We saw that living in harmony
with our fellow man
and Mother Nature
was doable . . .
But when you look around now,
it appears like we have forgotten
all of that.
I fight for what is not left
I fight for what went long ago
the smiling faces
flowers
long hair and bell-bottoms
of you
© C. Steven Blue 5/24/2014
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