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

[Marie]

Some people dream very small...

[Rita L. Sev]

Nothing wrong with simple dreams...

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

It is said that ignorance is bliss for a reason. To a point we all need a little of that to keep hope alive. Very much enjoyed the read.

Glad you don;t have issues with tattoos, I have a few myself.

[Rita L. Sev]

Yes, some days I just don't look around... No problem with tats at all - I am one of the few people I know who don't have one. :) Thanks, Dale!

[Ed Hart]

you should see the clueless in china, and afghanistan, and washington dc...your poem demonstrates that there are also the cluefull

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Ed...

[Pryde Foltz]

Love the satire. Keep'em coming.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thanks, Pryde!

[shallimarRose]

oh my gosh Rita do you live in Los-Angeles by any chance? this was amazingly accurate.. thanks for the rr.. xo shallimarRose

[Rita L. Sev]

:) Nope - Philadelphia. I have a feeling these scenes play out all over the country... Thanks for reading, Rose!

[B-poet]

These are very keen observations Rita. Thank you sharing them, because every person's vision of America is different due to geographical location, buy let's face it and I've come to realize it too that it's all the same propaganda within one nation regardless of time zones, cultural norms and above all advertising to consume our currency a.k.a american money. It's funny how goofy fads and trends have taken over as the moral standard in regards to our social decency as Americans. Great write for a short poem that packed a heavy conceptual punch. :)

[Rita L. Sev]

Fads and trends taking over as moral standards... how true. Thank you, BP

[Baby Ricochet]

Make the big gulp a vodka and orange then it's bloody brilliant

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Mark.

[Clockwork]

These are really great observations, and you paint them here for us in your usual style in very stark shades of reality. That third stanza with the toddler having second amendment rights really resonated with me. With everything that has happened in this country with guns, this stanza makes me really think hard about that question. I heard a story where a gun company made a gun for young boys so their fathers could teach them to shoot with miniature rifles. I think the model was made for boys somewhere between 5-8 years old. A young boy shot his brother with the one of those, I'm pretty sure.

Great piece Rita.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you so much, Christian. I cannot tell you how stunned I was seeing that kid with the gun, pointing it at the cars around him...

[Clockwork]

You're welcome. That must have been a truly stunning sight.

[Brianna Brie]

The American dream is one of prosperity which becomes more important than family values. The problem is that all of that comes with a price "stress & pain, stress & pain" hence people looking to numb the pain. Just my thoughts on the matter.

[Rita L. Sev]

True - all of these things "numb the pain" of not attaining the dream of prosperity. Thank you for reading and sharing your insights.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

"even toddlers have second ammendment rights"

damn this place is inspiring...i love writing America poems, as you know...and this one is inspirational and will probably send me into an American dream state poetically..

those lovely tattoos, the spandex...the American dream..

this might be me all time favorite from you..

observations make great poems..especially with your description which takes us along for the ride with you. thanks to you, we see, we see.

[Rita L. Sev]

Jacob, I am humbled by your words. This was a case of the poem opening itself up in front of me... I am so pleased that you have found something meaningful here. Thank you.