Like an Orwell treatise for wisdom, you weave a rich tapestry here, juxtaposing the progressive identity with the traditional (and sometimes trivialized)historical richness which is still out there, although--as my wandering camera has proven--harder to find. Well done.

I had to check with dear Webster on this "frumpy" proposition.
"Staid, old-fashioned, uninteresting and unattractive' sprang forth.

But a few days shy of my 79th birthday, I look in the mirror and regretfully acknowledge that "frumpy" is not too far off the mark. Still, if I can simply avoid mirrors and calendars, my manners and words and thoughts help me manage to avoid the "frumpy" description even as I confess that the joinder of "frumpy" and "old" is a somewhat reasonable description.

A shocking thought occurs to me: If I could just manage to shave off about forty years of time, I'd now, at last, be able to live with the personal confidence that comes with vast experience and accumulated knowledge.

But since personal calendars resist such shaving attempts, I'll continue to hide behind my creative writing of poetic power ballads (publicly sung by others) and content myself with dreaming of what could have been "...in the day."

Besides, I'm reluctant to confess that I well remember Model T's and their hand-cranking after first setting the spark just so. Even mentioning such a memory admits that I do, indeed, fit the category of "Old men."

However, with a little luck, I can claim that probably I'll be leading the charge in entering Heaven's Door way before "young men." So there!

A thought-provoking post, Jon.

Richard

WE LIVE IN AN AWESOME TECHNOLOGICAL AGE AND IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE BUT, EVERY MODERN ADVANTAGE OF TODAY, ALONG WITH THEIR INVENTORS, WILL ONE DAY BE CONSIDERED...OUTDATED. THEY WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW AND BRIGHTER INVENTORS AND INVENTIONS. TIME AND TIDE WAITS FOR NO ONE...SO, IF THEY LIVE LONG ENOUGH, 'OBSOLETE' WILL EVENTUALLY BE LISTED ON THE MENUS OF TODAY'S...YOUNG MEN, WHO HAVE GROWN INTO TOMORROW'S...OLD MEN AND THEY WON'T LIKE IT. SOME PARTKAE AND SWALLOW IT GRACIOUSLY, WHILE OTHERS...COMPLAIN AND BALK WITH EVERY BITE. BUT REALLY, WHEN THEY SIT DOWN AND THINK OF HOW IS 'USED' TO BE...CAN YOU BLAME EM(SMILE? I LOVE THE COMPARISON HERE, IT'S DONE WELL AND ENJOYED. THANKS FOR SHARING. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...JOYCE * HIS INSPIRATIONS

You provide much to reflect upon, Jon; I hope I am never going to be a "frumpy old man." Thank you dear friend. Love and peace,

Regis

Really love the neat summation in the final verse, Jon! You have observed your subject well and I completely concur with Axilea's robust and detailed observations. What age and gender is the overhead enigmatic hawk, may I ask?! :)) xx

An awesome write, Jon. Had me thinking Grumpy Old Men from the beginning, and you didn't disappoint. Love the car and technology references to demonstrate the gap. Great job!
Sheila

..I love this, I play cards once a month with 7 other girls that I graduated with from HS (we roatate houses) and I am telling you I see how we have evolved from Junior high kids to now 54 year olds, I can so relate to this poem on many measures..GREAT WORK!
Blessings and Love,
Christine

Wonderful word choice, Jon, the colors have clearly gone; I see (and hear!) gray birds that flock together. The liveliness and compassion are missing, or they may have been replaced by cynicism... and lack of perspective. Very interesting!

Axilea

this poem sparks many memories of my father ... i hope not to live along the same edges ... very well written, Jon ...

...sadly we all become one of the frumpy group whether men or women, but this reminds me of that group of older men that meet each morning at the same table and sit in the same chairs to relive or review whatever comes to mind. Always a pleasure to read your work, Jon Michael.
love and peace dear friend, Carole~

Jon, my friend, this old Model T is grinding his gears
and he sits and slurps his strong black coffee as he
savors your wit and wisdom and continues to dodge the
omnipresent enigmatic hawk. -gene.

Truly disarming insight, Jon, full of grace and elegant wit!
How I love the old men I know.
Blessings,
Christine

Keep that 'enigmatic hawk' away for now at least!
Existing at the edges and yet central to wisdom,
frumpy and tetchy Model T's -love that image -;
you deliver this, Jon, My Friend, with charm, wit
and seriousness, all the right components
and it makes for a great work indeed.

John

VERY NICE!!!!!!!!!!! I LIKE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Liana Margiva

i confess, i commune with a few of these old fellas! gotta love 'em!
well said, jon, as always, a pleasure!
carolyn

Grumpy old men–I are one. Yesterday, I drove past two young men strolling through neighborhood trash. I wanted to run down my window and tell them what they thought of their environment, but I didn't. They seemed to be wearing gang clothes and I didn't want them knowing where I live. Such is life.

I like the language–crusty like the poem.

Ron

Jon this is one hell of a poem,although I don't consider myself an old man yet, there are days that the tech world and yes the youth leave me scratching my head but one thing I have learned. When the young who are smart need advice it is we whom they turn to.
fee

I like this...nice one! Sue