May 1964

By luigi_pagano

Mon, 09 Jun 2014
  • 1698 reads
4 comments
 

May 1964. I remember that date
because of fisticuffs in Margate.
They came with bikes or scooters
but were no ordinary commuters.
Two factions wanted to decide
who was the top dog at a seaside.
Rockers with Pompadour hairstyle,
Mods whose objective was to rile
The fight among the two was manic,
the town’s residents were in panic.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread,
Pope said, so I prudently fled.
You might think that it’s rather odd
but I was neither a rocker nor a mod.
I sat, as was my wont, on the fence
wishing for harmony, not violence.
Have I realised my wish? Not at all;
even now we have perilous oddballs.

© Luigi Pagano 2014

Certificate U
Poem
Mutevoli pensieri
Other Fiction

Comments

Submitted by maisie on

enjoyed the poem read it aloud to get a full flavour.  A little rocky in the centre when read, however really enjoyable, and might be me...

maisie angel Guess what?  I'm still alive!

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

A bit of a blast from the past, Maisie. Glad that you concur with the sentiments. Thanks for the feedback.

Luigi smiley

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Luigi,

I watched a documentary on BBC4 last week,  about that weekend.  You summed up the scene in your poem.  It seemed that the mods and rockers were okay with each other,  until the media said there would be trouble and so the mods and rockers decided to give them what they wanted.

Although I was only ten at the time,  I think I would have been a rocker given the chance,  just loved their music and the moter bikes and leathers.

Glad you sent this in,  it was a good piece.

Jenny.  xx

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

I can just imagine you astride a Norton or BSA motorbike wearing a leather jacket and with a Pompadour hairstyle, Jenny! You are right, the media hyped up the whole situation although there was always some tension between the two subcultures. The music of course was indicative of the period.

Luigi xx