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Johnson and Johnson and Saturn...

Sitting with Pop, watching 'Carson'
He's had both his shots
The 80 proof whiskey and his insulin
The TV blares another commercial

He is confused; "Why are they showing a car
When they advertise a science program?"
Now, I'm confused ???
"They said Saturn is coming next"

No, that is a car commercial, Pop
"Jeez, they are so fast, Last time, I thought
That 'Johnson and Johnson' was selling asprin
For the headache you get from buying their car"

"It's all so fast these days, doesn't anyone slow down?"
"There's too much going on all at the same time"
Sometimes, I feel the same way Pop
Did you eat your dinner they brought you?

"That crap? The turkey this and the turkey that
"Three times this week; and no cranberry sauce!"
I'll make you something Pop, how about some eggs?
"And sausage?" Yeah, and sausage...

As I wash the dishes, he yells: "Goddamn them Russians!"
I wonder; what has he heard now?
Can you get in bed by yourself tonight?
"Sure kid, I grabbed another belt before you remembered
to put the bottle up."

I'm thinking... another trip down here tonight
Good thing it's only downstairs
Let me check your sugar, Pop
"So soon? Everything goes so fast"

I know, Pop, I know...

Style / type: 
Free verse
Review Request (Intensity): 
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Review Request (Direction): 
What did you think of my title?
What did you think of the rhythm or pattern or pacing?
How was the beginning/ending of the poem?
Last few words: 
I only realized today; what my father meant,. I feel left behind; everything moves so fast these days.
Editing stage: 
Content level: 
Not Explicit Content

Comments

an amusing, yet somewhat sad poem about old age and life in a retirement home I assume? Good thing they allow/ed your dad to keep firewater in his quarters; some places won't allow it. He passed on by now? Sorry if so. Getting old--worse yet--fragile, is unthinkable for me, and yet, I'm 86 years myself; kind of difficult to keep up with a youngish wife, but I'm tenacious. You are a good son, sir; Great write. Van.

a nursing home. My father bought a two-family house and we were living upstairs and he had the apartment downstairs.
My wife and I both worked and he had Meals-On-Wheels deliver to him for dinner. After he passed on, [1995] and the recession came, we had problems keeping the house and the bank wound up getting it. My father was an amputee [left leg] more than half way up the thigh, from a motorcycle accident at nineteen and an injury at work to his hip, in his fifties. He had worked as a welder in American Locomotive here in Schenectady for twenty-six years. He was confined to a wheelchair.
Thanks for the read and comments. ~ Geez.
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author comment

the tech-world gets more and more complicated and young people seem to want and need more and faster stimulation every day. My grandson has his computer going and playing games, his tablet going, watching a video and enough room to monitor a conversation between my wife and I. LoL Talk about multi-tasking! Thank you for your read and comments, it makes me feel slightly better to know that I'm not alone in thinking that this world moves way too fast. ~ Geez.
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There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

author comment

is 23, so not a baby by any means. I just notice that he needs more stimulation like most kids these days. They play games that are so fast and complicated that I can hardly follow what they are doing. I have grandkids and nieces and nephews that are like 6- 8-12 yrs. old and they fly along like no-body's business. Thank you for the comments and feedback. ~ Geez.
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There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

author comment

i can see the interactions in the course of the poem. well done!

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Raywhitakerblog.wordpress.com
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This was the product of a conversation that I had with someone recently. We were commiserating about the fact that young people today, seem to need more and faster stimulation. [ the need to have several apps open at once. ] I think they call it multi-tasking? LoL ~ Geez.
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There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

author comment

This is a fantastic poem, a story that feels worn with both the joys and burdens of reminiscing. As Van said, both amusing and sad in its own way, and I truly love how you told the story. Amazing work.

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https://meanderingbackward.blogspot.com
"The true alchemists do not turn lead into gold; they turn the world into words." -William H. Gass

My father and I didn't get along much, for many years. He was a contentious alcoholic that harbored great resentment for the whole world when he drank. When he wasn't drinking or able to have more than a couple; he was a sweet, charming man that despite his handicap of amputation, worked for many years at some hard physical labor. My mother said that he had been a great slow dancer and I saw him swim underwater, so far that we all thought he had drowned. He drove a standard auto and with considerable skill. He cried when he saw me riding my first motorcycle. He had that dry English/British sense of humor, that I think that I have inherited. ~ Geezer.
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There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

author comment

<3 <3 I'm sorry for your loss. I'm glad you can carry his memory on with your beautiful words

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https://meanderingbackward.blogspot.com
"The true alchemists do not turn lead into gold; they turn the world into words." -William H. Gass

He has been gone since 1995, so it is not fresh in my mind. I am at the halfway point when it comes to missing him. I have forgiven, but not forgotten some of the things that he did while drinking, but I realize that he was 'sick' with his alcoholism.
It's hard to reconcile some of the things that he did, with the person I knew as a capable, funny man. Anyway, thanks for your read and comments. ~ Geez.
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There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

author comment

poem about future shock and how it hits old folks harder than young ones

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