Growing Old Into Youth Poem by Richard Wlodarski
Growing Old Into Youth
Way too damn old
When they were young
Booze was taboo
And pot for devil
Sinful Mary Jane
Trying to kiss me
LSD freeing misery
Way too scary for innocent me
I cried
And shit
My pants
When Devil
Won the war
In the midst of all of this, drugs were running rampant. And students were dying. Some of my closest friends were into all kinds of crap. And they were doing their best to get me to experiment. I refused. And rebelled! Talk about peer pressure! Somehow, we all survived!
There's a quality to this poem that immediately made me think of Rodriguez. Then as I reread it and found myself thinking back to something a friend said about a decade ago. It was something like, High school was by far not the best time in life for a lot of people. As you say, sometime those memories of youth may not be about celebrating victory and coming of age, but about recalling that we made it. We survived. There's poetry with a great depth of philosophy in this work.
M.J., I am very happy and honoured that this poem has given you an inspiration. Really looking forward to seeing what you come up with. As always, thank you so much for your insights, very positive feedback and your support and encouragement.
I keep coming back to this poem, Richard. It gives me an inspiration. I'll share the work...It takes me time to get things just right, though.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Delivering Poems Around The World
Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge...
5/11/2024 2:14:04 AM # 1.0.0.1119
I loved how you turned it around Richard how you in fact were the rebel by not submitting to peer pressure. A poem that makes me reflect on my youth and makes me wonder how any of us survive those years. What a creative title It interested me because I wrote a poem about I who grow old young. I'm not sure who Devil is but my imagination can envision all kinds of things. This poem makes me so grateful to be a little older and hopefully a little wiser.10 for sure
I love your feedback, Norah. Thank you so very much. When I graduated from Social Work at Ryerson University, one of my high school buddies (not one of those druggies) gave me a framed James Dean poster and a card that read: Rebel With A Cause. I'll keep you in suspense as to the identity of Devil. Maybe one day, I'll write a poem.