Disenfranchised Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

I remember as if,
Those yesterdays I lived...
Had not gone away at all.
When I first arrived back to a place,
From facing obstacles...
I had been tested to remove.
And found myself,
Amongst minds unchanged.
Minds staying to remain,
To play the same elementary games.

I remember the gaining of experiences,
From adventures and tasks...
I had been forced to explore.
With thoughts I had returned,
Where progress was either...
Prevented or ignored.
To perceive what was exhibited,
Had been requests from the people...
To leave every aspect of their past adored.
And that was in 1970.45 years ago.

I remember it was in 1987.
When I returned again for just a weekend.
To believe I had recovered from earlier disbeliefs.
But here it is in the year 2015...
And many have accepted their unchanging minds,
With very few taking notice...
Of the changing of scenes or the signs of the times.
Yet protesting they've been disenfranchised,
By a future unwilling to be patient for them to awaken...
For them to open their eyes to realize,
Life does not await for points to be made.

'How OLD are you guys? '

~I'm almost 80.
The rest of my teammates,
Are between the ages of 40 and 75.
Why? ~

'What about your children?
Grandchildren?
And some of you who have 'greats'? '

~That's why we've come to protest.
We want more playgrounds.
And the eliminating to remove,
All the gates to expand our games.~

I remember as if,
Those yesterdays I lived...
Had not gone away at all.
When I first arrived back to a place,
From facing obstacles...
I had been tested to remove.
And found myself,
Amongst minds unchanged.
Minds staying to remain,
To play the same elementary games.

'But...
What about your claims of being disenfranchised? '

~That's why we are here.
We want our contributions,
Acknowledged and realized to protect and accept...
the dire affects your lack of interest,
Has had on the future of our children.~