Clueless in America

Took a ride around the neighborhood today...

Middle-aged man

in Spiderman spandex

slowing traffic on the Av;

no bike lane’s gonna tell him

where to ride

 

Proud and portly woman

at the bus stop

chugging a Big Gulp ~

she’ll tell you she’s just

big-boned

 

A four-year-old

points a toy gun

out the window of his daddy’s

pickup truck ~

even toddlers have

Second Amendment rights

 

While a tanked and tattooed herd

gather at the corner bar

at three in the afternoon,

‘cause it’s five o’clock somewhere

and the girlfriends are still at work

 

All present and accounted for,

living the American dream

 

Author's Note

Just observations - I have nothing against bicycles, Big Gulps, tattoos, or even a drink in the afternoon. I just wonder if this is what we have in mind when we speak of the American dream...

Dude really was wearing Spiderman bike shorts...

Reviews

[Zahra]

Wow interesting visuals, enjoyed it. Well penned

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Voice.

[Kwiksie Ifediora]

ha! good and witty piece Rita.
Haven't been there yet, but your descriptions lure me....

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Kwiksie!

[SyberRose]

I am a people watcher too...so much fun to watch the stage of life...actually i admire the pleasantly plump women at the beach who let it all hang out and could care less who is watching them...Wouldn't it be a boring world if everyone was dressed in suits ha..:)

[Rita L. Sev]

Ha! Yes, it certainly would! Thanks, Rose!

[Holly Mason]

well the bike kid will probably have their bike confiscated (for poor driving) at some point
but before he does that he will take Big Gulp lady for a ride after he leaves the bar before his girlfriend gets out of work...and the Big Gulp ladies kid will blow him away with his toy second amendment gun...and the bike boy will be late getting home his girlfriend will be drinkin' mad and fists will fly ,glass will break and the local PD (who is the father of the second amendment boy) will have to waste more tax payer time ...and then the epiphany of the American Dream can be realized ...on channel 2 @ 5 P.M. EST ...hahhahaha just sayin' and your title will make a wonderful series
thank you so fine teach...sorry but that was fun*)

[Rita L. Sev]

Ha! Holly, you have tied these characters together well - and aptly in this neighborhood! I could imagine it all... Thank you for taking this piece that extra step!

[redflutterby]

People watching can be quite amusing and offers lots of inspiration for creative writes. Spiderman bike shorts are better then seeing grown adults in Sponge Bob pajama bottoms at Walmart.....well sort of...

[Rita L. Sev]

LOL! I have seen a lot of pajama bottoms in public, too - I don't get that... Thanks, Red

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Interesting piece... This reminds me of a piece I wrote called "Middle America". It deals with the idea of how things appear vs. how they really are...I like the observation in this one, the way that you have looked out into the world and brought it into view for us. I too have nothing against anything that you have observed...even children playing with toy guns, because as far as I can remember "cowboys and indians" was the game of choice for most little boys and girls. And, afterall, America is supposed to be the "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave". However, I can see this world through your eyes, and the little things that observe are so starkly vivid, I am put right there with you.

A well written piece, and very thought provoking. Lovely writing, Rita!

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Sarah. I appreciate your insights on this piece.

[Dr. Wood ?]

I thank you for the trip......It is my dream to visit the States and the subject of this poem....regardless of what folk might say...IS the reason for that....I loved it

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Doc - glad you liked this one. Different from my usual...

[Friday]

Interesting. From a distance it seems that the American dream and the "you can do it too" pertains to one at the expense of maybe 10,000 or so. With that in mind I'd say "no" to your question (wondering). Interesting observations though. Great write!

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you for your insights here, Friday!

[Friday]

A certain R. Perot once said "I live the American Dream! You can do it too!". Rhetorics is about convincing. According to what they teach at the universities on that subject there is no truth. In Logics, however, truth and false is imperative.

[Lydia Shutter]

What a wonderful write this is....looking at the world through a sort of camera lens. It takes all kinds to fulfill the American Dream....and if we accept that, we will all be a lot happier. Rita, this is unique and I enjoyed it. Lydi**

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Lydi. You are so right about it taking all kinds...

[TL Boehm]

WOW. I get this. We really do live shallowly. Numbly. We live what we're told to live. We're fed what's fashionable. So many don't think or work for themselves.
You've hit on something highly relevant here. I think I'm guilty of this type of shallow process too, like Marie said - we dream small. We're conditioned to do so.
Spiderman bike shorts! Even if I was still 108 lbs like I was in HS I would not wear spandex anything. So many people would see me and have to swear off sausage. It just wouldn't be right.

[Rita L. Sev]

Shallowly and numbly - well put. Too much media, telling us what to be...

The guy was easily over 50 years old, and not terribly overweight, but not buff enough to pull this off... Whole outfit. Spandex shorts and shirt - lookin' like Spiderman. Oy.