1968... I was a gormless, naive 12-year-old
Sixty-nine... well, that just meant 'next year'
.. though I think I was sprouting
hair in some strange places....
Vaguely aware of the 'troubles' in Northern Ireland
completely baffled by Vietnam and Prague
Musical tastes shifting from the Archies
and the 1910 Fruitgum Company
to the Beatles, Dylan, Jethro Tull, The Who.
Discovered the generation gap.
The day we got our summer holidays
there was a British General Election
In which I had no interest ( I'm Irish )
Stayed up 'till 4 am to see the result
... because I could.
To this day I do this, every time
I have no idea why...
Got a fruit-picking job for pocket money
Had my first kiss in the strawberry patches
holding hands on the bus ride home
Scared, but with scarlet-cheeked pride
at this new awakening.
Couldn't make up my mind
Whether to lead Liverpool and Ireland to soccer glory
or be the hero of a new Rock Revolution
Still haven't, come to think of it.
Author notes
Written May 27th, 2005
In a list
A contest entry
- The Year Was 1968 by Cat.
300 points, ended May 31, 2005, 6 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - #115 When I was a kid, school vacations seemed to last forever. by daviscth.
425 points, ended August 18, 2008, 8 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 10 of 10
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Boy did this one reawaken long forgotten memories.
Being of the now wrinkly generation i remember every incident mentioned in this piece
Northern Ireland i was there in the troubles 68 Watched Viet Nam in goriest colour on the news reels.
Saw the young student stand before the Russian Tanks.
Did as Simon said in the 1910 Fruit-gum song
I also recall Wilson wining the General election in 64
Was i overjoyed as the only Labour supporter in a house of 8
My god you have made me feel old An excellent piece with so much reflected in a well written piece
Well done
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Nice write and congrats on the bronze trophy. This captured an era long before I was alive, but made it vivid and clear to me. Good luck in the contest!!
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I really enjoyed your wonderful poem. Thank you for posting in my contest.
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Excellent
A vivid picture you paint and I think when we look back at years gone by it can be both comforting and yet melancholy.Depending on what occured,which this poem captures good and bad memories.well done -
congratulations on winning a trophy. this poem is a delightful look back at a youthful time, from a different perscpective. and you've written it with an endearing charm. very nice job!
~travis
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This was so wonderful because of the way the poem was put together. I loved the fact it was like a list of things so simply placed ( I didn't have to look up any words this time and it made me feel smart)it's like you are sitting in an easy chair, smoking a pipe, relaying these memories to your child. It's really nicely done. My favorite part is the ending. It makes you wonder if we ever truly "grow up".
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This was so lovely, and I do hope you do well in the contest. It brought back so many memories of my own teenage years.. Whooohoooo! Well done.
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I really like this piece based on several reasons. My first and most important reason is you stepped outside the box and gave us what we were looking for. Your '68 experience. Our list was not a guideline, it was just a track to help accomplish a recognition for the times.
I liked the storyteller voice you used. The first kiss was precious.
thank you for entering and good luck.
Mary -
Kim,
Thanks for the kind and constructive comments. You were right about the question mark, I replaced it with a few pensive periods....
I realise that you were probably aiming at works featuring Vietnam , Martin and Bobby, Civil Rights, Hippy revolution themes - I've tried to convey here that distance relegated these political happenings behind first kisses and even boring TV election coverage for a 12-year-old Irish kid.
Of course, the opposite was true in the musical arena, music being more powerful and important than politics to the young.
PJ
Edited on May 29, 7:13 p.m. because 'typo'. -
Nice job with putting your segways into this and taking the historical events into personal events. I think that was very unique.
I think there was a question mark in "I have no idea why..." Seems as though it should be a period whereas you're making an observation versus asking yourself a question.
I rather like the view of writing this from outside of the U.S. and using information that has nothing to do with either country. Though, perhaps someday we'll all realize that at some juncture of time, too many of our events affect so many other parts of the world and we sometimes don't realize how large the impact until it's too late.
I think your conclusion on this was great as was the bus ride leading to it. It left the poem with a bit of affection and a small slice of inner reflection as to when you might (or if you will ever) grow up. Not a bad concept to put your poem on.
Thanks so much for the entry. Nicely done.
Kim
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