Armchair Hippie

by Jerry Jordison

I was an armchair hippie

During the war in 'Nam.

I read Time and Life.

I cheered Ruban

And was awed by Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert.

My hair was long.

I made peace symbols in the snow.

Inuits, back from school in the south,

Shared their hash with me.

Friends grew the weed

In grandma's flower pot,

And made brownies during the darkless nights.

Cool!

I protested pollution in the Northwest Territories,

And wrote to Trudeau;

And wrote words of wisdom:

     I shot an arrow in the air

     And it stayed there.

and

     Unwrap the parcel of water,

     Keep the stamps,

     And drink it.

and

     Peel a million Balloons

     And breath the fresh air.

Psychedelic man!

During my programmed holidays I bought music:

Cat Stevens, Simon and Garfunkel,

Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd.

I dug it!

I wore bell bottoms, painted T-shirts,

Bought incense and black candles.

During the winter we would fondue

With wisps of smoke entwining our noses.

Cool!

I was at Woodstock—in my head—

Sliding in the mud,

Number nine, number nine.

My stereo never stopped:

Country Joe and the Fish.

Far-out man!

By Jerry Jordison