Blue Nun and Babycham

By luigi_pagano

Fri, 19 May 2017
  • 1876 reads
6 comments
 

 

My generation was against the gun.
‘Make love not war’ was the battle cry.
At dinner parties we drank ‘Blue Nun’
and on television we watched ‘I Spy’.

Smart young women had Babycham,
joined peace rallies, enjoyed the thrill.
Burned their bras, didn’t give a damn
and for contraception went on the pill.

The swinging sixties was the decade
that changed our view of social taboos.
People took pride in being self-made;
some wore long hair, some had tattoos.

We all believed that the only solution
to shake politicians in their ivory tower
was to initiate an unarmed revolution
and called for peace with flower power.

Our uniform was blue jeans and sandals,
went to pop concerts and enjoyed sex.
We witnessed many political scandals
and the assassination of Malcolm X.

We came very close to burning our boats:
thought that we were virile young blades
and may have sowed too many wild oats,
but I’ve forgotten as the memory fades.

We wanted to put the regime to the test
and freedom for all was the watchword;
we went on marches and tried our best
but still did not manage to save the world.

© Luigi Pagano 2015

 

Certificate U
Poem
Mutevoli pensieri
Miscellaneous

Comments

Submitted by Ed Crane on

Each generation has to re-invent its own wheel and make different versions of the same mistakes.

I remember Blue Nun, but my first taste of booze was Watneys Red Barrel. (how embarassing).

My mum used to drink Babycham on the rare occasions she had any alcohol. I think she even had a glass with a Bambi on it.

 

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hi Ed.
Each generation believes that it is better than the previous one and can offer solutions that will revolutionise the way we live. Sadly though, despite the good intentions, we still haven't managed to save the world.
I remember the distinctive Babycham glass with the leaping deer.
I wasn't much of a beer drinker and was not seduced by the claim that 'Double Diamond works wonder' but I succumbed to the slogan 'Guinness is good for you' and now I have the occasional half for 'medicinal purposes'. Well, that's my excuse and I stick to it.

Cheers, Luigi,

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Luigi,

I love this poem, you talk about many of the things that I remember well. You know I really do think the 60s did change the world and I was proud to be a part of it, especially the music which has stood the test of time. Much of the music today comes and goes, but the music of that era will live on forever.

Oh by the way, I used to drink Blue Nun and loved it, also remember the babycham glasses well, we had quite a few of them, though I never remember what happened to them.

Anyway again I enjoyed reading your poem.

Jenny. xx

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hi Jenny, I remember the sixties with fondness. We were young, idealistic and we looked forward to a peaceful, if not prosperous, future. The music of that period has indeed stood the test of time and I still listen to it with enjoyment.
As for those glasses perhaps they went the same way as ours. In my household there isn't one complete set of glasses, every day one bites the dust.

Thanks for your lovely comment.
Luigi xx

 

Submitted by Linda Wigzell Cress on

Lovely Luigi. Had me reaching for my babycham Bambi glass!

Linda

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Take good care of that glass, Linda. Apart from bringing back memories, it may have become a collector's item.

Thanks for reading and commenting.
Best wishes, Luigi.