CHANGE OF ATTITUDE

CHANGE OF ATTITUDE

Black boots on marble floors

steel taps ringing as I pass

classroom doors wide

a myriad of evil eyes

T-shirt sleeves rolled

sweater vest open

jeans with cuffs

black garrison belt

Wavy black hair

Tony Curtis front

greased on the sides

unruly duck tail

I stalk the halls

pulling out

a new Lucky

from an old pack

Surly, tough

a greaser

quitting school

stupid kid

If I could go back

shake him

break him

but of course

The Air Force

did that

to me

for me

1958, the year

I found a newer

better self and

change of attitude

Comments: 48

William M. Jan 28, 2013, 10:01pm UTC

Congrats. Well done.

JOHN BECK Jan 28, 2013, 10:50pm UTC

Yes.

David W. Jan 28, 2013, 10:54pm UTC

:-)

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Granny Janny Jan 28, 2013, 11:06pm UTC

We all have to grow up some time....

David W. Jan 28, 2013, 11:28pm UTC

True, for mot of us, but then there are the few...

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Debbie W. Jan 28, 2013, 11:07pm UTC

Very good

David W. Jan 28, 2013, 11:28pm UTC

Thanks, Debbie

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Shelbia C. Jan 28, 2013, 11:12pm UTC

Great writing!

David W. Jan 28, 2013, 11:28pm UTC

Thank you, Shelbia.

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Shelbia C. Jan 28, 2013, 11:13pm UTC

Thanks for posting to Writing Reservoir

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Sonia M. Jan 28, 2013, 11:17pm UTC

Some people never grow up, David...Air Force or not...you were one of the lucky ones..
Good job!

David W. Jan 28, 2013, 11:29pm UTC

Sometimes I wonder what my life would have turned out like if I did not enlist.

Sonia M. Jan 28, 2013, 11:52pm UTC

Let us just be glad the 'punk greaser' turned into you...
;-)

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Kathryn Flynn Jan 28, 2013, 11:41pm UTC

They turned you from a boy to man.

David W. Jan 29, 2013, 11:18am UTC

Now if I could only go back again for a second run.

Kathryn Flynn Jan 29, 2013, 10:36pm UTC

Write it!

Featured in The Change Made the Man in the Triple Name Club.

David W. Jan 29, 2013, 11:29pm UTC

I've been writing that story in my mind for years.
Thanks for the Feature, Kathryn.

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Karen E. Jan 29, 2013, 12:06am UTC

Great write!

David W. Jan 29, 2013, 11:18am UTC

Thanks, Karen.

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Madame Donna C. Jan 29, 2013, 1:28am UTC

Growing up takes many forms, doesn't it, David? Good job! I thoroughly enjoyed this.

David W. Jan 29, 2013, 11:19am UTC

"All roads lead to Rome,"...sometimes.

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Bernard C. Jan 29, 2013, 2:17am UTC

Interesting write - I think that if a lot of us that know what we know now could go back and apply that same strategy what a different world it would be today..LOL Good photo to accompany

Thank you for sharing and submitting to
The Surreal Circus.

David W. Jan 29, 2013, 11:20am UTC

The problem being, if we go back and change one thing it becomes a domino effect and we are faced with a whole new series of events to conquer.

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elizabeth evans Jan 29, 2013, 8:58am UTC

I loved this. Have heard many times how the Service made "a man" out of James Dean types.

elizabeth evans Jan 29, 2013, 8:58am UTC

â€¨ Thanks for sharing with Triple Name Club.

David W. Jan 29, 2013, 11:21am UTC

Made men out of Lou Costello types also.

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Angela A. Jan 29, 2013, 10:15am UTC

Growing up and maturing is the best thing for everyone

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Make your own banner at MyBannerMaker.com!

David W. Jan 29, 2013, 11:21am UTC

Not for Peter Pan...

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Janey M. Jan 29, 2013, 11:15am UTC

Awesome! Great job

David W. Jan 29, 2013, 11:21am UTC

thank you, Janey.

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ʚϊɞ Carol ʚϊɞ Jan 29, 2013, 4:03pm UTC

A nice stroll down memory lane David.

David W. Jan 30, 2013, 8:29am UTC

Stroll is not the word, the past if moving away so fast I had to run. Thanks, Carol. :-)

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Chris Brockman Jan 29, 2013, 8:57pm UTC

Do you think that all or most of us have goodness (not moral, but competence, intelligence, insight, that sort of thing) within us and for some of us it takes a screw driver or a chisel or a hammer to break it out? Maybe we're all marble that undefined and unpolished and some of us stay that way or, worse, get dull and soiled, and the lucky ones are sculpted by life into works of art.

David W. Jan 29, 2013, 11:36pm UTC

"Isn't it strange
that princes and kings
the clowns that caper
in sawdust rings
and common people
like you and me
are builders for eternity
each is given
a bag of tools
a shapless mass
a book of rules
and each must make
ere life is flown
a stumbling block
or stepping stone" ~ Author unknown

Chris Brockman Jan 30, 2013, 6:10pm UTC

You said it, brother.

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Adelaide M. Jan 29, 2013, 9:16pm UTC

Thanks for posting to Point Taken. Have a great night!

David W. Jan 29, 2013, 11:38pm UTC

Thanks you, Adelaide.

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Priscilla P. Jan 29, 2013, 9:29pm UTC

I love the click click beat of the words that fit together so very well!

David W. Jan 29, 2013, 11:39pm UTC

I'm learning the rythym of internal growth

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stephen berwaldt Jan 29, 2013, 9:54pm UTC

The service has been the salvation for many a young upstart. Saved my brother, since it didn't kill him. :)

Thank you for posting your work here at Gather's Luminous Writers and Artists.

David W. Jan 29, 2013, 11:40pm UTC

It saves some of us, destroys others. Not all are equal to the task.

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I can't bring myself past staring at the picture. When/if I do, I'll let you know what I think of the rest. :)

David W. Jan 29, 2013, 11:44pm UTC

Well thank you, M'Lady. Unfortunately time entrusted me with a new look. Still, I am comfortable within my skin.

"I Yam what I yam, and that's all what I yam." ~ Popeye the Sailor Man.