from the land of opportunity
'rose a spoiled generation
consumed in their prime
who were marched off to fight
feeling compelled to reject
the flaws of their fathers
and their nation's hypocrisy

they poured raw emotions
on the skin's inhibitions
believing severance of  law
equaled true love and freedom
filling the days of their dreams
until the glass emptied
to the host of their sins

now they rest on lost laurels
stolen treasure and glory
having repeated the atrocities
once loudly protested...
while their spirit quietly slips
into the historic mist
of the same eternal irrelevance


                  Runnells, Iowa ‘10