beatniks

the beatniks are back in town
you read the message in their eyes
old souls, and wise
sorrowful, deep soulful eyes

don't look like beatniks though
more like the angels
or Daoist immortals, balding
skinny, with grey straggly beards

don't wear those berets anymore
nor dress all in black
these ain't young hipsters
no, they the ancient survivors

beatniks gentle, been through the wars,
flips, epiphanies, and highs
now they down
down to the ground

but they swing
oh yeah, they swing
like the stoned old crows
on the wing

--Ross Bender