80's Day (2nd Draft)

The 80’s
big hair, big bands, metal ballads and parachute pants.
Cable television, just over the horizon
Don Johnson, Bo Derek - never growing old
Whitesnake, Van Halen, Michael – young
Eight tracks, records out to cassette tapes.
Reagan offered hope
Communist offered doom
Amazed by DOS, stunned by Windows
Typewriters to computers.

80’s day
A celebration
Where’s the beef, Like a Virgin, headbands
Big hair is big wigs,
parachute pants costumes
Going retro
Saying, “I like the old stuff.”
Spandex, leg warmers
wondering about music
on MTV.

{This is an updated version of "80's Day" found below. Feedback would be appreciated and I hope you enjoy the changes.}

80's Day

I remember 50’s day
in the 80’s when we had it all
big hair, big bands, metal ballads and parachute pants.
Cable television, just over the horizon

We were unique, never changing like Magnum P.I.
Don Johnson and Bo Derek were never growing old
Whitesnake, Van Halen, and Michael before he was weird and still cool.
Eight tracks and records died to cassette tapes.

Reagan was going to save us all
While the Terminator reminded us, we were doomed
We were in awe by DOS and stunned by Windows
Computers were innovative, while we typed on typewriters

Now they have an 80’s day
Where’s the beef, Like a Virgin, and headbands
It’s all retro now with spandex and leg warmers.
Foreign to a generation who never saw the music on MTV.



5-12-2010

Bear

The mightiest of animals in the woods.
It is said that when a bear falls,
even the trees take notice.
Graceful and free in life.
Humbled and stilled in death.
From birth,
a cry distinguishable
always
until extinguished
by death.
Throughout the woods the bear is heard
leaving prints
where greatness roamed.
For all the ones gone ahead,
and those still to go,
we will not forget the bear.
The mightiest of animals in the woods.


The above poem was written after visiting a Facebook group started by Susan Haley for all former students of Sylvan Hills High School in Sherwood, Arkansas who have died. Susan has done a fantastic job at pulling this group together and it reminded me not only of lost friends, but also of the "prints" those friends leave behind on our lives and the world as a whole. This poem is for all SHHS Bears and Susan.