The Olerud Trees

when i was a kid
i never had to gather firewood from beneath a drone filled sky

when i was a kid
i gathered wood to cook marshmallows with

when i was a kid
john wayne was almost dead
and pink floyd songs weren’t censored for our protection yet

when i was a kid
we had kent state and wounded knee of 73′
my daddy went to vietnam
and liz cheney’s dad still wets the bed

when i was a kid
democrats were democrats and republicans were republicans
both are quite proficient at killing
decades worth of firewood gathering children

when i was a kid
trees were made for 2×4’s, forts and fantasy
some kids dodge missiles when collecting wood from them
while one spoiled rich kid finds that his view is blocked by them