Battle-scarred Message


Ah

To have one's own
post pandemic online diploma
to pull one's good-as-new
'58 Airstream trailer
into a Long Beach, California driveway
mobile home for now

temporary
of course

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

So here I place my claim
amidst sunbaked
split levels
oozing post war euphoria
among red blooded streets
names after red blooded Americans
Lincoln, Washington, Roosevelt
and of course
Nixon

that's temporary
of course

Come 6:30 suffocating thruways
deliver Granddads to their homes
sporting their commuter compacts
proudly displaying license frames
proclaiming ghostly dreams
"My other car is a Mercedes"

Into their house with a
"California or bust" remembered war cry
continuing to be drowned in cheap libations
poured into knock-off Waterford crystal decanters

Ah

The 1st quick shot
then across the shag rug
dropping into the velveteen La-Z-Boy recliner
continuing to lull themselves Heroic
pouring 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

Sons and daughters
remnants of another age
growing up with afternoon net surfing
before working the registers at
Taco Bell or Dee's
followed by
night classes at West Community College

Ah

To graduate
from anything in the 60's
was to live

Today

Even with free rent driveways
careers for grandchildren
mean hawking car wash supplies
hooking up tomorrow's
more "duper" than "super" cable lines
or if lucky
using some paternal
long term connections
to manage a franchise
say
Taco Bell or Dee's

So

Here's your 2021 equal opportunity chance
CLEAN JOB CREATION

I'm talkin' about
a vote for the ANY% job creators

mustering opportunities in the

pollution free jobs of the future
is a vote for moving up
in this wonderful country of ours

My name is Whoever You Believe Esq.

knowing that’s the way it is now
and I approve this message