I don’t often read American books, but when I do I read Dearie.

We all saw a great show
And feel better
Relieved.
Time to forgive
And forget
Move on
But they are with us still
The liars who went along
Who did not speak
Who protected careers
And the party
They are with us still
Remember.
Coming of age in 1959. A naïve, college junior leaves a small town in Southern Illinois to spend his summer vacation in Chicago. He is living with his mother’s childhood friend, Dearie, who is Jewish, separated from her husband, lonely, and alcoholic. One of the vice presidents at Chicago and Northwestern Railroad—another of his mother’s friends—gets him a job as a draftsman. His slightly older coworkers are jealous of his youth, his freedom, and don’t like the way he got the job. He is accepted but unwelcomed.
Things do not go well, but he is eager to explore an adult world in the big city where he hopes to repair a broken relationship with the love of his life. She is the reason he has made this last chance move, but things go sideways at a birthday party given to her by a dozen male friends at the sheet metal shop where she works. A would-be suitor slips him a Mickey Finn that terminates both party and his love life.
Dearie and Bruce find themselves alone, together. They are perfect for each other at this time and place and begin a summer that will never be forgotten.
Just like the poor
We have been with you always
Need you support us
Feed us
Serve us who possess such wealth
Beyond the means of spending
In a lifetime . . . Many lifetimes.
You who serve us
Fortunate to have the work we gave you
Welders, miners, teachers, doctors
Scientists and politicians
Soldiers to protect us, fight our wars
We sell the bullets.
Once called kings
We have now lost the weight of crowns
And any sort of obligation to the people
Governments and nations
We own palaces in many lands
Morphed into new age gypsies
Far beyond the reach of rules, morality, and taxes you cannot avoid
We make the laws and politicians
Sure our cause is just for all
And most of all
For us.
Unknown by want
We are the alchemists
Who turn your sweat to gold.
Published: Local Gems -Beat Generation Poems 2020