bell-bottoms | California Ink in Motion

1969: A Personal Reverie – 4th of July, 2011

Daisy-chained flowers, style of old
woven through cascading hair with
macramé belt on hips worn low
a small brass bell with colored beads

Tie-dyed shirts and bell-bottom jeans
sewn velvet patches with peace signs
cover the skin from holes worn out
plus one of Jerry Garcia

A starry-eyed innocent girl
one with nature; longing for peace
the freedom she loved believed true
fiercely fought to never let go;

The wonders and surprise of youth
regardless of what the man said
ignoring rules – regulations
living life, forgoing regret

And all the while…

War banners waved, the march went on
the radio blared protest songs
Crosby, Stills and Nash – Déjà Vu
and we all sang along, while still…

Our young flew home in wooden box
color flag draped – mothers mourn deep
spirit crying from their souls and
young flower children wept that year

1969 still burns deep
I will never forget those days

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* my first non-rhyming poem still with a consistent iambic tetrameter attempt*