PPM

When you have a day off
And time is on your side
You find your mind wandering
All over this land

Found the old albums on the shelf
Went back to a time when I was just a lad
It was the 60’s and I was not aware
Of the troubles or woes that faced our nation
But I did know that listening to folk music
Made my heart glow
Today I listened again to Peter Paul and Mary
It was 1964 and their live ablum was my pride and joy

The tears of memories fell from my face
My heart grew with a better understanding
And the woes we faced then…in the 1960’s
Still face us today

I wonder…
If I could sail away again with Jackie Paper and Puff
If I had a hammer…
I'd hammer out danger,
I'd hammer out a warning,
I'd hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land…
And today I wonder where that hammer is

Just this weekend I was down in Dallas
Deep Elum was the land of street people
And I remembered 500 miles
Not a shirt on my back, not a penny to my name
Lord I can't go a-home this a-way
This a-away, this a-way, this a-way, this a-way,
Lord I can't go a-home this a-way.
And still today 500 miles away…shirtless people exist
They have not a penny to their name
And they seem forgotten
Have we forgotten our love we had in the 1960’s?

And when they sang Dylan’s Blowin in the Wind
How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
How many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
How many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
Today on the news another 20 year old died in war
And still that question hits you hard…
How many deaths will it take till he knows…
Why do we not know this answer yet….

As a poet today…I understand oh so well
My voice came from the folk music I listened to
As yet a wee tow headed boy in the 60’s
Laying on the carpet and playing the records
On our Sears stereophonic player
And today I wonder why
I have not picked up the hammer
Or asked the questions….

02/21/2005

Author's Note: Dylan, Peter Paul and Mary, Simon and Garfunkle and so many others...your message rings true today...and as a poet...my voice came from you...how can I repay this...other than keep on writing...Thanks

Posted on 02/21/2005
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