Soren: The 1930's

I came in at 13, left at 23
And what a trip it was.
Called, the formative time of our lives.
Wow was it ever. First car,1926 Roadster.
Mike’s junkyard, “gooda a car you get for 12 bucks. No?”
First love, madly with Beatrice.
Wondered about in the haze of her smell.
Singing, “Let me call you sweetheart I’m in love with you
Let me hear you whisper that you love me too.”
Delicious while it lasted.
It wasn’t meant to be
Broke my heart long before 23.


Lost my romance
The roadster, Beatrice my sweetheart.
Yes, the depression decade.
The song of the time, no sweetheart stuff?
“Brother can you spare a dime?”
“Once I built a railroad made it run
Buddy can you spare a dime.”
Everybody lost a job.
The country out of work and hope.

Not In my world of radicals, anarchists, freethinkers,
How come you ask?
All, Marxists thats how come.
He taught us. Capitalist economy has a disease.
Regular economic dystrophy.
You lost your job? We knew it in our bones
Terrible. Never your fault. The system failed.
Wow what a relief, “no, no” never your fault.
Always, the capitalist system failed.
Result a permanent state of protest.


We marched, demanded jobs, Home Relief, Food
To City Hall, Albany, Washington yes Washington
Tens of thousands descended on the President.
FDR in the White House. He responded.
What else? Respond or face,
Social unrest. People riot in the streets.
Capitalist power threatened.
Soren, the Russian Revolution just across the ocean.
Our rulers wanted none of that.


A lot of shoe leather lost, marching, marching, marching.
Boy did we win.
The New Deal, Welfare, Unemployment Insurance, Social Security,
Unions right to organize, I became,
A union organizer, bringing workers together
A fair share of company profits.
More important their very own dignity.


Fascism was growing in Europe.
A most evil solution to the depression.
Solved the economic disease. The iron fist of a dictator.
New prison, the concentration camp.
Millions died there.
Picketed the German Embassy shouted
“Down with Hitler and Mussolini.” To no avail.
A war in Spain began the fight against fascism.
Americans, our Abraham Lincoln Brigade
Fought the fascists.
Freedom lost, as the rest of the world, did nothing.
With World War two we would pay a terrible price.
Over 50 million died in that Armageddon.
Europe in ruins.


We continued to live our lives.
Picnics in the parks, concerts at Lewsohn Stadium
Your Grandpa a street corner orator.
Called the masses, “rise up defend your rights.”
A new song, for the decade.To John Browns Body.
Solidarity Forever, “For the Union makes us strong.”
We marched sang with upraised fist.
Nothing exhilarates the human spirit as a crusade,
Not to be missed especially in youth.
Soren, Sure hope you can catch one.
Love Great Grandpabob.

PS. Never ever be without a cause, a women to love and a car.

Thank You Kate and Kaima N.H.W.Y.