Generation Gap

A poem about the differences (and similarities) between the older generation and the younger generation.

He sat upon the wooden bench
In a busy neighborhood park
A scowl was etched within his face
As he fed crumbs to jays and larks

He glared up at the young man
Shuffling past in tattered jeans
"Pull them thar thangs up, boy!"
You young 'uns are full of beans!"

The skinny teen stopped short
And quickly turned around
"That's right I said it!
Get 'em off the ground!"

They stared at one another
Each with dark brown eyes
The old man and the young
Waiting to crack wise.

"I don't wanna see your underpants
Or the gap between your cheeks
I'm tired of keeping quiet
And pretending to be meek!

I worked upon our land
Wore overalls all my life
When they tore Ma sewed patches
Then later on, my wife

When I went off to war
Still there was no rest
But when we got back home
Displayed medals on our chests

I dressed in a store-bought suit
Putting my bride into the ground"
Tears filled his blood-shot eyes
His lips trembled in a frown.

The teen sighed dramatically
Adjusting his backward cap
"You old guys don't know nothin',
We're tired of your crap!

Suspenders, socks with sandals
Pants hitched up to your n*****s
How can you judge me, dude
As you sit and drink your ripple?"

The woman ran and hugged him tight
"Poppy, why the need to roam?
Stop pestering nice people
C'mon, let's get you home."

"You will understand one day
When YOU'RE the older generation."
He said in a loud voice.
"Us elders make the nation."

Each shuffled in opposite ways
Along the cement path
Words echoing between their ears
They snickered and they laughed.

Author's Note

Please give an overall review on this poem. Are you in the older or younger generation? State that when and if you review, please. I'm curious as to what both groups think. Thank you!

Reviews

[alifeacoustic]

I think if the young me met the now me (did you like how I deftly avoided calling myself old), I think it would be the same result as your words express here. When we are young, we know nothing but have all the answers, when we are older, we have the wisdom of choosing our words more carefully, and we would both agree to disagree while thinking the other one an idiot. More of us should just accept that we are what we are and ne'er the twain shall meet.
No one is ever right due to their age, but we give the impression this should be so. There are lots of fascinating young people out there, just as there are old people, but we do judge and are way too ageist for our own good. Live and let live and all that other stuff :)
Great write Melissa. Capturing the differences of old and young alike.

[MelissaAndres]

So true. Not lumping everyone into the same categories in our differences but we are also similar (or can be) as to how stubborn we can be. We all want to be right. If we all just say down together, we could learn from one another. Sometimes we should just live and let live.

[annalysiar]

I like this, your glow is amazing for such a deep message. Great write

[MelissaAndres]

Thank you annalysiar for your kind words. I appreciate it!

[TL Boehm]

Well, even when I was a teen I wasn't disrespectful to my elders. If they weren't relevant - I was polite anyway - and I was respectful of those in authority for the most part. I was never intentionally rude. I"m 50 so I am in the generation that brought you Madonna and new wave - I grew up in the shadow of nuclear war and I remember the first gas shortage - my grandparents served in wars and my great grandparents homesteaded in the Dakotas. Now my children are working and starting their own lives. I have always encouraged them to be open, honest people - but still to be respectful. We need all generations - green wood, seasoned lumber and the petrified stuff too. We are best when we have feet going forward and hands reaching back. There are those older types who flat out dismiss younger types and that's wrong. But there are a plethora of 20 somethings and teens who need a a*s whoopin. Or at least a good dose of something serious in their lives. That's my thought anyway - beyond my diatribe - this is a wonderful poem to open up dialogue like this. Great write

[MelissaAndres]

Thank you, TL. I will be 50 in just a few short weeks so I know exactly what you are talking about when it comes to "our" generation. I am not putting all older people and/or all younger people into the same category .. just a generalization, if you will, on how I see a lot of people today and what I hear on the news and social media. Every generation thinks they are right about everything from music, to curfews to military to respect. Our views change over time .. be they good or bad.

[wordman]

well melissa, you have captured a real scene in today's life

[MelissaAndres]

Thank you, wordman. I calls 'em as I sees 'em! Heehee!

[Mister T.]

Haha, interesting poem, that's one thing. It's an interesting discussion in my opinion. Enjoyable anyway :)
I'm not picking a side in this discussion, as I do not agree with either of them, even though I'm one of the young. Indeed, the young should respect and admire the old, respect their wisdom and life experience, but it should also be the other way around: the old have to understand what the young are going through as they've been young as well. In my opinion, most of the old share their prejudices with others, arguing in their own favour, not telling the people the other side of the coin. Not ALL of the young are argumentative, combative, self-centered, whatever they're called. Although the same goes for the old, not all of them have prejudices about the young.
Conclusion? The old and the young should all live in harmony, together, and respect and admire each other :-)
Anyways, nice read, great poem :)

[MelissaAndres]

Thank you, Mister T. I'm not lumping all oldies and all young folk into one group .. this is just a generalized poem of what we see on the news and in social media. I am not choosing sides either because I am pretty much right there in the middle (well, leaning toward the old side in age). I wish we could all live in harmony as well -- age, color, religions, etc.

[Celie Rose]

Nice poem. Well expressed. "Us elders make the nation." Older generation is wise."You will understand one day." This statement is so true. The younger generation will understand one day. Well written. Keep writing.

[MelissaAndres]

Thank you, Celie Rose. I wasn't making one generation out to be any better than the other. We all have good (and some bad) to contribute to society. We all need to learn to love or at least tolerate and respect the other for those contributions.

[andrew mitchell]

I'm in between and this rivalry has always travelled down the ages as morals, discipline slacken over the ages the gaps between old and young appear to become larger! A lovely story true to form. Well expressed in poetry!

[MelissaAndres]

Thank you, Andrew! I am in the middle on this issue as well. I am no longer a young spring chick but I'm not elderly either. I do think there is a break down in society as a whole because of manners, ways of dress and just general respect but it's basically a select few that ruin it for the rest of us. Thank you for reading and your kind words!