The Bold Solution

At last week's Bend Poetry Slam we had some poets visiting from other parts of Oregon. One was a grizzled guy from Ashland named T-Poe who performed two poems about the Vietnam War (which was over before most of the people in the room had been born). His third piece, The Bold Solution, made me want to jump up and yell, "Yeah, brother!"

With T-Poe's permission, here it is:

The Bold Solution

Kids it's time to change the world again
It's time for revolution
Although you didn't start the mess you're in
Be the bold solution

Your youth is like a power tool
Greater strength than twelve old men
To make it work, there is one rule
You have to plug it in

I hear some say "not my job"
"I'm still in school and havin' fun
I will not join your youthful mob
To do the things you should have done"

It's a cumulative creation
this world we're striving for
didn't start in my generation
and it will not end in yours

The sixties kids were out in the street
they numbered a thousand score
poundin' their fist and stompin' their feet
And bustin' through the doors

The doors of segregation
and the doors of fear and hate
Women's liberation
They trampled down that gate

They kicked the door of wartime
they waged war on war itself
and some where in that paradigm
a generation found itself

They found their guts, their fortitude
they found an outer voice
to break the silent solitude
and give themselves a choice

A choice which let them say "HELL NO"
"We will not follow fools
Love will take us where we go
and love will write the rules"

And with their fervent notion
they took the reins of truth
and with manifest devotion rode
'till time had stole their youth

But they got so much accomplished
in their short and shining reign
the freedoms which they helped unleashed
are all the worlds gain

Yes, age has robbed their power now
their sight is growing dim
And kids, it is the hour now
to take the reins from them

'Cause every generation
drops the ball as they grow old
It's up to you to pick it up
and run it toward the goal

And no doubt you will drop it
although you try your best
when you do, just toss it to
generation next

'Cause their youth is like a power tool
greater strength than twelve old men
just make sure they know the rule
they have to plug it in

And Boomer ain't a dirty word
for we are just like you
Every generation has
the shit that they go through

So be a fuckin' hero kid
don't take your cues from me
and don't think I'm a zero kid
Hell I've done my heroing

Kids, it's time to change the world again
It's time for revolution
'though you didn't start the shit you're in
Be the bold solution!

T-Poe 2007


Yeah, brother!


Posted by Dave    Blog Tag: Poetry