1. The Greatest Generation, or the GI Generation (1901-1924)
Many immigrants marrying there or here
Not even a thought of conforming, just accepting
The way things are designed to be.
Roles are clear as glass
And no one dares break the sound barrier
Both men and women come together for pragmatics
The depth and meaning that will unravel over time
Are mostly inconsequential to the quintessential fears of sphinsterhood
And no one to carry on the name or take over the farm.
2. The Silent Generation (1925-1942)
Fifty years of bliss or just fifty years.
I think back to my parents romance
It seemed as if my dad swept my mom off her feet
And whisked her away to the marriage chapel
Without a moment’s hesitation.
Men then were decisive
They proclaimed their desires
Without any modern fears of commitment or failure.
The women beckoned to be the lady of the house
With full, swirly skirts promising eternal awe.
3. Baby Boomer Generation (1943-1960)
Moving the hips to throw out the cobwebs
Of inhibitions gone wild
Changing partners, got to taste it all
The drugs and flower power
Ease the threats of blatant military atrocities
In wars that never let one go back home.
The changing of the guard
Making divorce a normal life transition
But their hearts were basically pure
Unable to forget those they left behind
Claiming both past and present as endearing lovers
While protesting and rocking out demands for change
Men and women not sure what roles they wanted
Or even what they could negotiate.
Marriage started out “just a piece of paper”
But lead right in to the tightening moralities for the next generation.
4. Generation X (1961-1981)
Hanging on to their parents rebellious coat tails
Wanting to make things a little more chill
Rebelling with alcohol and even speed
But, ultimately returning to an ultra conservative stance
Once again fearing being alone
Or a failed marriage
Getting so individualized it is all about me deserving
There is so much forethought just to date
All the criteria carefully run through the values computer
Scientifically dating, not spending a whole lot of time with
What can I be giving
Wanting the perfect child that overindulges their lives
Culminating with the idea that the balance of man and woman needs restoration
So traditional roles can once again soar.
5. Generation Y- /Generation Next, Millennials, or Echo Boomers (1982-2000)
Texting, teching, iphones and ipads and webcams
Keeping their distance
Short and sweet
A new language without particular verbs
Slangs and hesitations in abbreviated verses
Making the real contact awkward
And no where as revealing
Confused by the world of love
It is now more of an open playing field for choices
Love comes in any combination of genders
Roles are so convoluted there is no reason to ask anyone for a dance
The world has been such a wild crapshoot of boom and bust
And everything has been seen and heard on tv or the big screen or utube
All that is left is the uncertainty of the times, the health of the earth
And the longevity of the moment.
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