Symbols of Rebellion

 

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I’m of the generation who wore long hair,
tie-dyed clothes, and bell-bottom jeans
to show disrespect for consumerism
and hypocrisy, and went out of the way
to reject war and killing.  I watched
other generations symbolize with
safety pins and piercing and tattoos their
rebellions against expectations.  Lately,
however, symbols of rebellion escape me,
though I think tee shirts still speak to each other.
 
Today I wore a tee identifying me
as a “childless cat lady” to support
Kamala Harris for president. 
Someone accused me of mocking the man
who coined the phrase.  What?  Was I?  I thought
I was removing ammunition that made
the label capable of harm, disempowering
the mockery of the street.  I thought
it would make people smile.  And it did.
But rebellion?  It’s not me anymore.
 
If it were, I’d be out there questioning
our government’s ongoing support of
Netanyahu’s war.  I’d yell and sit
on a sidewalk, unwilling to move
until we killed no more.  I’d march to
Washington again and again until
the anti-war message is heard, and
acted on.  I’d say “No Business as
Usual.”  I’d refuse to eat or wash
or brush my hair until the killing stopped.

For my prompt "Hair!" at What's Going On?

My blog poems are rough drafts.

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© 2024 Susan L. Chast