At the time I was born
the Cold War was frigid.
Sputnik was a plan
& the A-bomb a reality.
Marilyn Monroe just made "The Seven Year Itch"
& Elvis was crooning on TV.
McDonald's began marketing mega-burgers
as Einstein offered his final thoughts.
Israel attacked Syria in a legacy of hate
& Tunisia wasn't yet a state.

When I was born
computers outsized dinosaurs
& birth control pills were new.
Scars from World War II still felt fresh
& in Korea more bloodshed spewed.

In a place of violence & amazing dreams
In a planet choking with pollution
& incredible beauty
30,000,000 other infants
with no idea of
what they were getting into
joined me.