smoke another, hippy

Art by Jeanette Marie

do you believe there were days
when a name meant something?

have you ever heard the crazy notion
that parents were there to teach?

rumors speak of days
when work made you stronger
and was a gift and a pleasure
not merely a curse that sucked you under

remember hearing about
times of fraternity, sorority
community
and hands lent to help
fallen brothers and sisters
back to their feet?

ever hear a far-fetched tale
of days when all the children
rejoiced and celebrated their differences
and in so doing
enjoyed a much deeper strength
in unity?

yeah me neither
must be this plume of smoke rising from my fingertips
seeing and hearing things that aren’t there
remembering things that never were