Inside a box of 78's I smell the dust of youth
listening to Elvis in the record booth
back-combing my beehive and spraying it with lacquer
stiletto heels and dirndl skirts and belted waists that flatter

The taste of coca-cola at the local diner
glamorous bright red lipstick, there was nothing finer
tuppence to play a disk on the old juke box
stockings and suspenders and pretty floral frocks

The 1950's rock 'n roll era rebelled
the first time the young were able to express themselves
there was no birth pill, and smoking was the norm
no career women then, just housewives on top form

No mobile phones or internet way back then
or laptops and tablets or electronic pen
life was about dancing until the midnight hour
snogging behind the bicycle shed as women had great power

A time when conversation was something people did
families interacted and we played outside as kids
listening to the wireless and dancing around the kitchen
Mom making pastry and darning socks with criss-cross stitching

Monroe and Mansfield inspired dynamic verve
even motor cars had romantic **** curves
but I am happy looking back with my happy stories
time stops for no man and I have the fondest memories

Have you ever wondered
what lies beyond the mirage,
or does the ******* they feed you
subdue your entourage?
Being pillaged and plundered
torn asunder by their botched collage.
Essential issues whither
the trivial prevail,
incessant bickering
we applaud, and we hail
As the boys in blue trade in their suits
for masks and camouflage.
Ignoring truth with no dispute,
Lady Liberty's bon voyage.

No sense to question why.
just wave her goodbye
Something in the water
Something in the sky

So sure
That my footing is right
Up one rung
To fall down a ton

The ladders much taller
Than id ever thought
And infinitely weaker
Up near the top

Down on the ground
In a pile of wood
In the place
Where the ladder once stood

Time now
To gather some nails
To rebuild the ladder
I thought would hold

The clouds are calling
I can feel their words
I look to them
And look back down

The time to rebuild
Is now

All the things, unsaid.
The thoughts, unsaid
behind a blue light lcd
staring into the white space
I do not fill with the:

I miss you so much and it hurts
I so very much enjoyed our time together
And maybe I'm over emotional
And maybe my vision is blurred
But I hurt when you aren't here
And I hate this machine
I've become.

And I worry she tore all my veins out
replaced them with wires, unfeelingly
pumping signals to this lead heart,
just gears and steam.

I am a machine, not a man.
I am efficient
I am strong
I am unfeeling
And I destroy everything
I touch.