Love and Romance in Past and Present Eras: Examinations of Both
Heather has a Bachelor's Degree in English from Moravian College and has been freelance writing for more than 13 years.
Once upon a time, love was a byproduct of simplicity
Of the youthful persuasion as two people discovered each other
Learning to understand what made them tick and laugh
Sure, not all marriages had staying power and their beginnings
Weren't entirely so humble in the viewpoint of a metaphorical shotgun
Short version: the wedding came at an unexpected rate
Pushing up the timeline for if, and when, a couple should get married
The 1950s had a stiff upper lip of tradition that came and went thankfully
Where gender roles were carefully formatted and planned out
Men ran the show at work, while women kept the home fires going
He was a detached gentleman who liked to drink away his feelings
Had flings with various women in secretary pool to spice things up
Women pushed vacuum cleaners around instead of confronting them
Repressive air so thick that the children could feel it
Hoped that their parents would get divorced to break the cycle of coldness
Always stuck it out in a point of obscene toxicity
1960s and 1970s were eras where love was free and cost nothing
1980s came with some severe medical consequences
Flashforward to present day romance where nothing was swept under the rug
Men and women could say what was on their minds and in their hearts
Not entirely sure the other party was willing to listen though
Women were able to get out of the kitchen and act like their male counterparts
Still some disparity among the sexes that made no sense
Sure, the battle of the sexes will always be going in some form
Thought it would be nice to get some respect at home
Romance now came in spicier forms and often skipped subtle courting
Often went right away to a level of physical intimacy
That many would often wait to achieve after a few dates
Nowadays, love usually came as a last resort
Once everything else was explored physically and emotionally
2020 brought in a time of exploration that could be fun and risky
Seen enough Dateline episodes to exercise certain level of caution
Still secretly prefer the old form of chivalry where men held doors
Pushed your chair out before you sat down at a table
Held your hand as a sign of affection, which meant a lot more
A simple gesture that showed you were more than a good time girl
That's all women and men want in a relationship
Someone to laugh with, love and go through the between stuff
Wanted a modern day Gene Kelly to come sweep me off my feet
Teach me to dance in tandem with them as we took the next step
That's all anyone could ask for.