Influential Buttons

Go on, guess.............Boom boom

Influential Buttons

Under the thumb

Of the mushroom men

We anticipate the bang

At 12:15

The odds

Were stacked against

At ten to one

Elsewhere

The weather man

Suggests a heat-wave

Might only be

A hamburger and vodka’s

Breath away

 

Author's Note

Hopefully not so relevant today as it was when originally penned

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

title absolutely a hook for me .. love the contrasting "mushroom" and "weather" men ... powerful in a small space ... clarity of theme ... searing, mouth watering images ... everyone could have used the vodka back then, Neville ... sadly, in my opinion, this poem is just as relevant now. :( the wall came down, the West rejoiced in the death of Communism; but I had to ask ... "Well .... where did it go then?" ... still the oligarchs, still the armies etc. .. and always the clashing of ideologies ... no matter the pragmatists on both sides ... i think this is a well done poem ... closing "Breath away" kind of drains blood from me face ... a keeper says i!
E.

[Neville]

I could not wish for a kinder or more reasoned response Gene and I can't thank you enough sir, say's I .... Neville :))))))

[Einstein Noodle]

top o' the mahrnin' to ya bro! i went to our local small brewery and came home with a jug of their "Bourbon Barrel Blacker 'N Ale" batch .. thick and malty ... and you can taste the bourbon ;) i will lift one to ya later today sir! Slainte mhath!

[Neville]

sounds like a plan Gene.. a damn fine plan.. thank you my friend.... Neville :)))

[Eilis]

I can recall some specific moments of anxiety from my childhood linked to news like this. At the top of my mind just now, coming out of the grocery store an searching the sky for missiles because I had heard an adult saying they were expecting a touch down at any moment. Going to bed that night, I felt like some great storm had fallen apart before reaching us.

I was in ninth grade, I believe, when the Berlin Wall came down. In German class we watched as so many young people came at that symbol with a mixture of fury and celebration. It is a moment I don’t think I’ll ever forget.

Your poem captures hints of nostalgia and anxiety. But most importantly it freezes something necessary to remember. Sometimes our memory is short. There is great danger in that.

I love your novel descriptions here, Neville. I feel the time and place. That’s a feat.

[Neville]

What a delightful response you have left here my friend.... you are absolutely right.. I was trying to capture, or rather freeze a period in time of so much uncertainty and fear, that I do believe there was a danger of mass repression, or hysterical fugue that the time would be forgot........ many, many thanks.... Neville

[Robert Trakofler]

well its a hare closer these days with the current administrations and a trump card holding the football looks like you are welcoming a new nut into your house cross the pond soon as well:) cheers brother!!!

[Neville]

Am not surprised you picked up on that Robert.... yes, sadly we have an utter buffoon as our next Prime Minister... not for too long though, I hope.... ta for popping in sir and true..... N :)

[lightsong]

a crazy world, a crazy world... all what I think of! and so I get that feeling that we are a gathering at a bar from 1880 or so?! that all we can smell is the drinks filling the airs? You put me in the mood of a scene from a novel of those times, and of course I believe I'm so far from what You intended it to be lol

[Neville]

these words were originally written many years ago when the world was a living under the threat of nuclear war .... today.. I like your take on these words far more than my original inspiration provided...... and I thank you not only for that, but for this most welcome visit ... thank you G :)

[Patricia Wedel]

The weather man predicts and
It rains cats and dogs... with a little fog...
I have an animal shelter ...

[Neville]

thank you for visiting these words Pat and for being you..... Neville

[gram linski]

I think the guys in Camp Bastion might disagree, good poem, N,

[Neville]

thank you for checking in... a much appreciated visit ... Neville

[Pete]

U.S. and Russia not so cold war ... :)

[Neville]

when these words were first penned by me... things between the two countries were getting heated and so were possibly more appropriate back in the day...... many thanks for finding them here and leaving your words........ Neville