~68~ Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Here it is, March!
Almost near the middle of the year,
Of 2015.
Twenty-fifteen?
And it seems 1947 when I was born,
Had been part of another century.
When people who were racists,
Had their biases, preferences and prejudices...
Still seemed to outwardly display,
An acceptance to respect one another.
So long ago I remember this to be true.

'It was? ! '

Not even in my wildest dreams,
Did I think in my 'teens'...
Living to become the age of 68,
Would not change the way I felt physically.
And mentally my mind is stronger.
Than any other age I have lived to appreciate.

But I will say this to admit,
Very few I see to be the same age as me...
Seem to accept the doing of it with grace achieved.
So childish are many in those kept mindsets.
And with it done with selective memories.

And here I am at age 68,
Witnessing my nephew, niece and their children...
Who are my 'greats',
Reminding me when I had been their age...
People then did not have computers.
Or disrespected one another to amuse themselves.
Nor was television used to abuse, confuse, manipulate,
Or deceive purposely to distort thoughts or kept beliefs.

'You mean you 'actually' met and spoke in person,
Face-to-face?
With people to get to know and show respect?
And had 'real' friends too?
Without downloading all their business first.
To not take at least one 'selfie',
Taken to send to them to show? '

Yep. I remember those times.

'Wow.
How could anyone live like that?
And without 'anonymously',
Bullying or backstabbing someone unknown.
Just for the fun and sport of it.'

Don't get me wrong.
That was done.
But no one 'then' had computers.
And people were more dignified,
With the hiding of their corrupted...
And deceptive thoughts.
Today,
Lieing without hiding it is accepted.

'It is? '

Yeah, it is. However...
Don't none of you dare try that with me.
I've lived too long to recognize who does it.
And I guarantee,
You will not like the consequences...
Of that activity to download or not.