my generation had no great war
until the towers fell
and the government invented one
then we were told
it’s not our fight
beyond the departures gate
at the airport
our struggle is removing our shoes
and grabby TSA agents
we never grew a victory garden
we never salvaged all our metal to make bullets
or watched the soldierly Vietnam death toll
march across the bottom of our television screens
we were raised by Atari systems, Pop Rocks, Sweet Valley High books,
and Bob Barker’s skinny microphone
so forgive me, my fellow
generationally x’d out americans
if i don’t give a shit
about your opinions on the upcoming election