Child of the 70’s I am
probably a
half-a-decade behind that
musically
favoring the 60’s
Not much into the Allmans
though lots of friends
certainly were
rearview-mirroring my peers
I get it now
because I lived it then
Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man
Tryin’ to make a livin’ and doin’ the best I can
And when it’s time for leavin’
I hope you’ll understand
That I was born a ramblin’ man
Moving from Minnesota to Colorado
at age ten
only a prelude
trekking back and forth every summer
solo
via classic
Greyhound Sceni-Cruisers
Within a week of high school graduation
I was back on the bus
back to Minneapolis, broadcasting school
kickstarting a career in small towns
Missouri, Iowa
back to Minnesota for wide-ranging
travelogue
multiple towns, call letters
a true radio vagabond
Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man
Tryin’ to make a livin’ and doin’ the best I can
genetically predisposed, I suppose
descended from
seafaring Vikings and diaspora Jews
My radio days ended, but not my nomadic
approach to the universe
Minneapolis, rural Minnesota again
ten years in New Orleans
as a high school teacher, no less
now back in the urban Midwest
tethered by roots seen
and unnoticed
here to stay, until I’m not
And when it’s time for leavin’
I hope you’ll understandThat I was born a ramblin’ man
Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man
Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man
Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man
Annnnnd…
fade.
– Mark L. Lucker
© 2019
http://lrd.to/sxh9jntSbd
Love it! Congrats on finishing! Love how the anthem intertwines with your life! I guess many of us are living our anthems!!
Thanks Cristy – on both counts.
Congrats to you, as well.
I enjoyed the phrasing of “a true radio vagabond” and towards the end “here to stay, until I’m not” feels so perfect!
Thanks Jennifer! Much appreciated. Always interesting to see what catches readers attention.
Like your story flow, and inclusion of “ramblin’ man” lyric. Stylistically, some prepositions and articles extraneous to flow in some of the writing, t hmmm ought perhaps you like the effect in this and other of your poems?
e.g.:Child of the 70’s I am
probably a (I might omit “a”)
half-a-decade behind that (might omit “that”)
musically
favoring the 60’s
Don’t want to trample style, though… just an observation