Tuesday, November 13, 2018

The Submarine Races




image from coverbrowser.com


The Submarine Races

“See me--Feel me--Touch me--Heal me.”
--the Who lyrics.

Tommy was blind and deaf,
yet he became a pinball wizard,
said the Who.
Dogs and cats like to be petted,
chickens too.

As a teenager, hormones raging, heading
to a local passion pit for the
submarine races, I could hardly wait
to touch my date; what was called petting.

Only rarely, ten cars across, radios blaring,
windows all steamed up, did intercourse
ever make an appearance. Coitus
was the impossible dream, the unclimbed
mountain. So you kissed and swapped spit
until your lips were bruised, unsnapped
a bra, unzipped some zippers, co-masterbated,
and possibly on prom night, scored fellatio.

Kids today hook-up, whatever that involves
I remember when holding hands was a big deal--
but I must say that all that teasing and foreplay
caused a raging case of blue balls--
a malady from the 50’s.

The 60’s led us to
What’s your sign? Let’s fuck!,
the incredible no-bra look, communes,
topless barber shops, free love,
and the best decade of rock and roll ever.
“Heal me”, indeed.

For septuagenarians,
there is still actual touch,
deeper, more meaningful love,
and wisdom--
that’s the rumor.



Glenn Buttkus

Posted over at dVerse Poets Pub

13 comments:

brudberg said...

That petting and innocent kissing... I think kids still do it actually, maybe we just imagine it's all so different... But I know that probably parents are more understanding to children taking their conquests home than we ever were.

sarah said...

Whoa, that was a rollercoaster ride through sexual manners in the 20th century. I hope the last stanza holds true.

Frank Hubeny said...

Nice remembrance and nice last line about the rumor.

Grace said...

The means and gadgets may be different but kids today still thrill to the actual date, with kissing and what not. Love the different stages of our lives with regards to romance, smiles.

Unknown said...

Did you hear me guffaw? A rumour, indeed. Touch, I fear, is an endangered species in age.

Frank J. Tassone said...

A tour-de-force! Brilliant images, and a sardonic tone that evokes a reminiscent mood without patronizing the present generation. Cool write!

robkistner said...

Wasn't it all just a fuckin' blast!! Let's hear it for the septuagenarians... but please make it loud, my hearing is shit! Nice write Glenn!

Mary Hood said...

Love has certainly taken its course over the decades, actually centuries. An enigma for sure! You are right about the music of the 60's. Nothing will ever compare!

Truedessa said...

Teenage Love - smiling at the comic cover. I am sure teenage love is still out there but, I think it's changed due to modern technology. I don't know how much actual hand holding is going on as it seems they are always holding a phone.

Dwight L. Roth said...

You took a touching trip back in time with this one. Very well done. There is nothing better than the human touch.

Kim M. Russell said...

The beginning of your poem reads as if it had been written by a rampant pubescent teenager with ADHD, Glenn! I’d never heard of petting being called submarine races! I just missed the fifties and sixties but the seventies were brilliant.

paul mortimer said...

Just brilliant. Love the pace of this, the no-holds barred grip of sexual journeys and then that last stanza is the real kicker ~ stopping us in our tracks, showing us that whatever age. It's still a thing!

Katie Mia Frederick said...

Hmm.. at Least in the Dance
Halls Holding Hands
is replaced
now
with
Bootie
Dances.. i guess
the Advantage is
No catching Colds
From Holding Hands
And Clothes are the Condom
that counts
on the
Dance
Floor
at Least..
And the 'Clothed Touch'
Seems to Work-out okay..;)