RHYMES OF OUR TIMES

or

VERSECOLOGY

FRANCES WEINBERG

My Versecology poems were written primarily during the 1970s and 80s as a poetic comment on the growing ecological movement which was beginning to have an impact on the everyday lives of us all. These poems use wry humor to deal with the many adjustments which we as consumers found it necessary to make to keep up with our increasing awareness of environmental issues.

Versecology Daily Dilemma Washday Blues Adjusting to the Abnormal Explorations
Feminist Daydream Curbs and Priorities Home Economics 2000

by
ROBERT WEINBERG
Untitled poem

Here's a link to a poem by William Wordsworth which has been a great inspiration to me.
The Daffodils

VERSECOLOGY

In the beginning... it was the persistent, tireless urging
of one very concerned woman scientist, forewarning of our
impending awakening to a very " silent spring ", that roused
us from our complacency, and we reminisced:

OUR ECOLOGICAL EVOLUTION

How simple life once used to be,
So nonchalant, and so carefree.
We dwelt on the complacent side
Then heard about thalidomide.

Of many hazards science spoke:
Carcinogens and cigarette smoke,
Grave warnings about DDT
And tuna fish with mercury.

While wondering what else was at stake
We partred with sweet cyclamate.
The phosphate perils, they came next,
Now saccharin has failed the test.

Of each new banning that we learn,
There is one of utmost concern,
How will the human race stay clean...
Without our hexachlorophene.

2

A few spirited scientists proposed some unorthodox remedies
to couteract the physical deterioration so much of the
population was undergoing... and we applauded:

THE PLACID ACID

Three cheers wise Nobel Laureate
For such distinguished service.
Farewell to sniffles, sneezes, coughs
Which makes most people nervous.

Let's start with just a gram or two
To test this controversy,
Then try it out at Medicare
And use it in the nursery.

Now people feeling " out of sorts "
Can throw away their drugs.
This mighty fighter vitamin
Will mutilate the bugs.

From timberlands of Oregon -
To suburbs of Manhasset,
This craze will spread from coast to coast...
BRAVO ASCORBIC ACID.

3

"Natural", "Pure", "Unadulterated"... became the byword,
and we embraced:

MIRACLE CURES

Are you all run down
     and out of touch,
Enjoying sex...
     but not too much.
Do advancing years
     fill you with much dread,
Are your moods lethargic,
     got that middle age spread?

Listen...
     can you hear that mounting tide of applause,
From more women
     in their menopause.
Males once doubting
     their fertility
Now rejoicing
     past sterility.

We hear much about
     these tocopherols,
And the magic
     alpha, beta holds,
Let's all jointhe movement
     just to see,
The rejuvenating powers of...
     pure Vitamin E.

4

Relieved and reassured when informed by officials of the
" Defect Action Level " of our food supply, an enlightened
nation ponders:

THOUGHT FOR FOOD

Salmonella in our chicken,
Female hormone in our meat.
Tasty insects and pure apple spray
Along with " trick or treat " .

Dazzling dyes served as an entree,
Bits of mercury in our fish.
Residues of seasoned pesticides
Do make a tempting dish.

From aperitif to demitasse,
This delectable repast,
With each meal that we devour...
Let us pray it's not our LAST.

5

Now, united aroused activists, swept along in this mighty
ecological revolution, vocalized concerns, sought
representation, and we anticipate:

ALL MAY YET BE WELL

True creative genius flourished once,
as history will show.
View giants Darwin, Plato, Curie,
Michelangelo.
Theorizing, Albert Einstein
proved a scientific void,
Exploring sexuality...
wise Herr Doctor Sigmund Freud.

Though in each successive decade
baffling problems do resolve,
We behold with much disquietude
more insidious ones evolve.
In this age of disenchantment who
will lessen mankind's ills,
Not distinguished by technology,
analysis or pills.

We perceive a new young hero
unobtrusively emerging,
A dynamic, virile paragon,
ever questioning, ever purging,
He will surely be immortalized
this ebullient crusader,
Our most dauntless, gallant advocate...
Herculean Sir Ralph Nader.

DAILY DILEMMA

When I wake up in the morning
And it's time to start the day,
I will have some milk and cereal
And a little BHA.

Then down to do the laundry
I go merrily on my way
I use any kind of soapsuds
With a pinch of NTA.

So off to do my shopping
To see what I can see,
There are lots of goodies on the shelf
And lots of BHT.

Goodness me, my head is spinning-
Can I make an urgent plea?
Should I buy the box with food inside
Or the one with MSG?
If they put it on the GRAS list
It's supposed to be OK,
But is that the way things REALLY are
Mr. Boss at FDA?

WASHDAY BLUES

While making out my shopping list
I underline "detergent".
For since I have no suds on hand,
This purchase is most urgent.

Some suds will bleach; some suds will blue,
Here is a brave "germ fighter".
Low action suds, degradables,
All wash our clothes whiter.

But as I view the vast array,
I have a mounting fear.
For warings of toxicity
Keep ringing in my ear.

First phosphates in, then phosphates out,
Don't add to the pollution.
Box cautions: "phosphorus-free, may cause injury",
Is there any sane solution?

Ecology is my concern,
Detergents, I count thirty.
If I want a clean environment...
My laundry must stay dirty.

ADJUSTING TO THE ABNORMAL

Mid-East troubles...
Short of fuel,
Let's keep kiddies
Home from school.

Sugar soaring...
Likewise bread,
Hunger baby
Is in your head.

Paycheck shrinking...
Don't despair,
For free there's still
Polluted air.

Land of abundance...
Home of the free,
What's left now for turn on,
There's always T.V.

EXPLORATIONS

Age of advanced technology
Has come about so soon,
Who could foresee in 59
Man walking on the moon.

I urge our learned scientists
Keep probing for the truth,
And solve a most perplexing why...
This cavity in my tooth.

Feminist Daydream

Changing lifestyles ---
Women's Lib;
Abortion rights;
Free love to give.

Which fantasies are uppermost ---
One juicy, inexpensive roast.

CURBS AND PRIORITIES

We now are gratefully aware
Officials do about us care.
Detailing supplements, avoid
Inositol, biflavonoid.

They surely know just what is best...
Hormone implants of DES,
Feed kiddies caffeine cokes galore,
But WATCH OUT ! for that health food store.

When forced to execute a ban
Of 2,4,5-T in Vietnam,
What better place to use this spray,
Why right here...
In the U.S.A.

HOME ECONOMICS 2000

Hard hit by inflation -
Steep prices for meat,
Now Mamma is serving
One-cell protein treat.

Grain resources dwindling -
Will we run out of bread?
Gone, old hat carbohydrates,
Feedlot waste in their stead.

What's with " Green Revolutions " --
Surely something's amiss,
Nutrients now derived from
Chemical synthesis.

All resolved in a test tube -
Molecules our first course,
Mom serves recycled pudding -
Pop yelps loudly, " Divorce ".

Here's an untitled poem written by my son Robert

the wide-eyed lecher of 1,000 dreams
bitten by the klnife
of the ramifications of the ages
scaffold, bridge, and platform
merge and disintegrate into infinite mass and density
supernova exploded gefore you were born and
you are still waiting for it to happen
do cry sir
that is all you are able to do.

If you have comments, suggestions or similar poems you might like to include on this page, email me at frances@metuchen.net

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