In 1927 Lindbergh flew
The Atlantic in his monoplane.
I was born the following year.
The first time I gave mother pain.
My memories of the depression
Aren’t really mine.
But are stories I heard told
And remember, line by line.
World War 2 was closer home
Although I was too young to go.
But I remember Pearl Harbor
For it interrupted my radio show.
I recall how the announcer said
“Stay tuned to this station”
And that is what I did.
As did others throughout the nation.
Korea, I guess, came next.
By then my draft card said 4F.
But I knew many who had to go.
Friends like Mike and Joe and Jeff.
Vietnam I missed out on too.
To be too old I was really glad.
Everyone I knew who came back
Thought it was really bad.
The cold war was sort of scary.
There was an evacuation map.
My wife said if I can’t go home
And get my cat, then I don't give a rap.
Mercury, Gemini, Apollo,
The landing on the moon!
Kennedy shot! My wife died too.
Tragedies come all too soon.
Y2K! It could have been bad.
I stockpiled some supplies.
Food, water, stove and lamp,
And a sleeping bag just my size.
I’m a bit depressed as this year starts
As it is quite obvious to me
Although I made it to year 2000
I’ll not see the next century.
jhs