—Then and now tangled beyond belief.
…………………………. —Anonymous
The Golden Era
It was a time when babies cried
inside their mother’s wombs
because children always tell the truth.
Wealth was measured in cream for coffee
And chicken for soup.
The days of the rich
were made of imported chocolate
and hair spray.
The days of the poor
were of cold tea
and thin air.
It was the time when God
was taking orders in a restaurant
and delivered steak and fondue
to only one part of the town.
On the town streets,
the saints were walking without shoes.
It was a time when no one talked,
but everyone clapped
and sang.
We found out we were happy
from the news.
It was a time
when no one told us
what would happen,
but everyone knew.
by Claudia Serea
from The Red Wheelbarrow, #6, 2013