And I Approve This Message
by Odin Roark

Ah…

To have one's own
post melt-down diploma,
to pull one's good-as-new
'58 Airstream trailer onto
a grandparent’s Des Moines’ driveway
and know you’ve at least got
a mobile home for now…

Now, one
of you politicians is gonna
make that only temporary,
right?

Granddad and Grandma smile,
knowing it's better having
a grandson in the driveway
than sharing the same roof.

So here I place my claim
amidst “Iowa’s world is flat” tundra,
where split-levels ooze post-everything-survival
clustered on red blooded streets,
named after red blooded Americans,
Lincoln, Harrison, Wilson and Adams.

Most days…

Come 6:30, suffocating thruways
deliver Granddad's home,
sporting their commuter compacts
proudly displaying license frames
proclaiming ghostly dreams
"My other car is a Mercedes."

Into their house with a
"Go Hawkeyes" habitual war cry
continuing to be drowned in cheap libations
poured into knock-off Waterford crystal decanters.

The 1st quick shot,
then across the shag rug,
a sinking into the velveteen La-Z-Boy recliner,
a continuing to lull themselves Heroic
while downing the real drink of warriors,
Wild Turkey and coke.

Flip on the dial,
take in the reruns of M*A*S*H,
then onto a chest thump
as another late night repeat
shows George C. Scott stepping up
onto that magnificent stage,
stars and stripes behind him,
swagger stick ready to do damage,
ivory handled Colt 45s hugging
hips most Granddads lost long ago.

Later…

Slumped in recliner dreams,
remembrances of better times
render smiles upon snore enhanced lips.

Long ago sons and daughters,
remnants of another age,
growing up with morning B/W TV
before working the afternoon registers at
McDonalds, followed by
night classes at a community college.

Ah, I’m so lucky…

To remember graduating
from most anything in the 50s or 60's
meant a livelihood.

Today…

Even with free rent driveways
careers for grown-men-grandchildren
(gotta love the longevity
of that ’58 Airstream trailer)
usually means a managership at
say; Taco Bell or Dee's.

So…

You get it, right?

Well then…

Here's your 2016 equal opportunity "opportunity"
JOB CREATIONISTS!

I'm talkin' about
a vote for the ANY % job creators (for real)
is a vote for moving up, right?
As someone keeps reminding us,
“It’s time to take back our country”
(but, from where?)

But, hey, this is a wonderful land we survive on.

My name is Whatever BS You Want To Believe Esq.
and I approve this message.