In 69
at a chilly dawn
thousands of young Fantasies
worshipping Sun and Maonotone
Oh, my poor Fantasies
shoveling and trimming rocks
rectangle and square
black and gray
till they became uniform building blocks
Oh, my innocent Fantasies
on the waving water, constructing utopia and mirage
Once on a dairy farm
at a creamy dusk,
thousands of young Hippies
worshipping the Who and Rainbows
Oh, my poor Hippies
digging and grinding rocks
Hard and Soft
Blue and Purple
till they became colorful chalks
Oh, my innocent Hippies
on the Rolling Stones, painting peace and love
6 in my eyes
What’s in yours
9 in the past
What’s in the present
This poem portrays a juxtaposition between two different time periods and groups of people: the "Fantasies" in the past and the "Hippies" in the present. The poet reflects on their experiences and contrasts the activities and attitudes of each group.
In the first stanza, the "Fantasies" are depicted as young individuals on a barren farm during a cold dawn. They are engaged in manual labor, shoveling and trimming rocks to create uniform building blocks. This imagery suggests a sense of conformity and a loss of individuality as the Fantasies work towards a common goal. They construct an idealized world ("utopia") and illusory images ("mirage") on the waving water, which implies their imaginative nature.
The second stanza introduces the "Hippies" on a dairy farm during a creamy dusk. They are described as young people who worship the Who (a rock band) and rainbows. Unlike the Fantasies, the Hippies engage in digging and grinding rocks, but instead of uniformity, they produce colorful chalks. This signifies their inclination towards self-expression, creativity, and embracing diversity. They paint symbols of peace and love while listening to the Rolling Stones (another rock band).
The concluding lines of the poem present a play on numbers and perception. The poet mentions "6 in my eyes" and asks, "What's in yours?" This line suggests a subjective perspective, highlighting that each individual may have their own interpretation or understanding of the world. The line "9 in the past, what's in the present" emphasizes the passage of time and the transition from one era (represented by 9) to the present. It prompts the reader to reflect on the differences and similarities between past and present, as well as the changing values and ideals of society.
Overall, the poem captures a sense of nostalgia, explores the contrast between conformity and individuality, and raises questions about perception and the passage of time.
