“Strange and Fulfilling” Post #17: “Who Made the Call”

DANIEL W. LONG

Who Made the Call

Who made the call for us all
to be tethered to cubicles & walls
while artists & dreamers are deemed irresponsible?

And who set the bar, saying
“You must all own cars!”
Making all of our townships unwalkable?

Who led us all on
to trade wild spaces for lawns
leaving the world gasping & drowning?

And who fuels the pride
when the land we choose to subdivide
forces rifts & shreds community?

Big boxes and highways
“Consume more!” “Live faster!”
ending in dissatisfaction

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“Strange and Fulfilling” Post #16: “33 Friends”

DANIEL W. LONG

33 Friends

“How do you know so much about this?”
They ask after not being ditched at
their own 13th birthday party.

“Of course you know,”
says the condescension of one
who didn’t grieve alone at 15
with solely a radio as companion.

“Records? Really?”
Yeah. The revolutions count the days inside at home
while playmates of old grow
more delinquent as they aged.

Many don’t understand the intensity of memory
locked in opening notes.
From childhood living rooms and teenage pain
to taverns filled with acrid smoke and warm shots,

these songs have been around
longer than lovers and through painful growth.
Melody lingering when others have left,
harmony embracing the broken.

Those who question don’t know
these are friends,
and for their loyalty, these songs
remain close at heart.

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