Rebellion


Stanley Kubrick for Look Magazine, 1949 



Match flame to black and white,
young bodies exhaled 50’s morality
into the brooding gray of rebellion.

Tight skirts, tight sweaters rode curves
to crash into the heat of broad shouldered lust
and answered questions unasked in Sunday school.

Youth rocked mom and dad’s world with voices
that rose above the noise of fire and brimstone
to announce life had a new set of rules.

  
©Susie Clevenger 2013

Written for The Mag 174

Comments

Anonymous said…
This is awesome Susie I love the whole theme of rebellion! Fantastic and the photo is perfect
Michael said…
i can only offer my vastly unimportant quiet applause
Unknown said…
Happy Days ;) nah kewl write enjoy'd
anthonynorth said…
You captured the spirit of revolution perfectly.
Berowne said…
Sharp and insightful; well done.
kaykuala said…
More than just days of growing up. It's the road to adulthood and responsibilities. Nicely Susie!

Hank
LaTonya Baldwin said…
Provocative, cool social commentary. Enjoyed.
J Cosmo Newbery said…
If nothing else it makes me glad I didn't go to Sunday School. Waste of time, it seems.
Brian Miller said…
second stanza is my fav...love the movement in it....oh yeah unasked in sunday school...ha...and every generation changes the rules just enough to make parents uncomfortable...or do we just change enough to be uncomfortable...smiles.
Janine Bollée said…
Now here's one for the history books!
Would you care to go back in time to those newly emerging rules? If only they knew....
Exceptionally well condensed into a handful of lines.
Timoteo said…
Ah, the good ol' days.
Tess Kincaid said…
Unasked in Sunday School...love.
crisp, compact and packs a punch!bravo.
grapeling said…
I hear a throaty, smoky growl underneath, for some reason. Smokin'! ~ M
Helen said…
I was preoccupied with memories of Saturday night ... during Sunday School. Love your Mag!
Other Mary said…
Yes, that's wonerful Susie. And it makes me think each generation believes it's the first to rebel. :)
Susan said…
This rebellion is appropriately measured and sedate compared to the next one .... Very fine writing.
Maude Lynn said…
To me, you've really captured the mood and feel of the picture.
Jinksy said…
1950's in a nutshell!
Fireblossom said…
Love the cashmere, but she's gonna put someone's eye out with that pointy 50s bra!
Anonymous said…
Susie, I like that line about "a new set of rules". Fits the era so well, I think!
Sherry Blue Sky said…
And there were bigger rebellions just over the horizon...........bra burning! flowers in rifle barrels! hippies! Ah those were the days, my friend!
Susie Clevenger said…
@mindlovemisery, thank you. For some reason rebellion has been on my mind lately.
@Michael, thank you so much.
@Aidz, thanks!
@anthony, thanks so much!
Susie Clevenger said…
@Berowne, thanks
@Hank, sometimes that road is full of potholes. Thanks!
@LaToya, Thanks!
The Write Girl said…
What a powerful punch in the last line. The 50's certainly signified a change in youth, pop culture, and society. Great poetry!
Susie Clevenger said…
@J...yes it seems it was definitely a waste of time.
@VaNdAnA...thanks
@Brian, Thanks so much! My mom especially didn't like the rule change...lol
@Aprille, thank you. I wonder if we could go back with what we know now would we be able to keep our mouths quiet and let them learn on their own. :)
Susie Clevenger said…
@Timoteo, I think all of us give a sigh and look back, and say those were the days.
@Tess, thanks!
@Abin, thank you so much!
Susie Clevenger said…
@Grapeling, I think I hear the same thing.
@Helen, thanks. I didn't go to Sunday school, but I know my thoughts would have been biblical...well, not the kind my teacher would have approved. :)
@Mary, thanks. I am sure they do!
@Susan, thank you. It certainly was!
Susie Clevenger said…
@Mama Zen, thanks!
@Jinksy, thank you!
@Fireblossom, I agree..lol
@Patricia, thanks!
@Sherry, I know. It was a wild ride in the 60's and 70's!
Susie Clevenger said…
@Write Girl, Thanks so much!!
George S Batty said…
Lots of changes and rebellion both silent and loud It was fun living the ride...hope we didn't screw it up for the future generations
Ella said…
I love how much color you painted in this black n' white retro poem!
Yes, you captured the dance of youth the only thing that changes is the backdrop!
Wonderful to read!
Susie Clevenger said…
@Thank you Melanie
@Ella, Thanks!
Kerry O'Connor said…
And a brave new world was born...
Unknown said…
Love that last stanza! Felt some rebellion rising in me - but then came back to reality, those years behind me!
Susan Anderson said…
Yep. I think you got this just right.

=)
Sara McNulty said…
Perfectly said. Every era has rebellion.