There's Something Happening Here

What it is Ain't Exactly Clear (Fiction) (Based on a Prompt)

Here’s my submission for this week’s song prompt.

For What It’s Worth, a protest anthem written by Stephen Stills and recorded by Buffalo Springfield in 1966.

Thanks to MJ Polk and Phillip Slater.

Lyrics in bold italics.

For What It's Worth

Last night was calm and relatively quiet.

Plenty of people milling around,

but nothing to indicate what was on the horizon.

Not even a hint of what was to come.

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There’s something happening here.

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Today, the streets tell a different story.

They are on fire…

with people,

fervor,

passion.

There’s costumes…

and music blaring.

The atmosphere is almost carnival-like.

Although, there’s an edge…

an acridness in the air.

---

But, what it is ain’t exactly clear.

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The crowds are everywhere.

People overflowing from every nook and cranny.

So many people.

Hordes weaving in and around cars,

and buildings and barricades.

---

A thousand people in the streets.

---

Emotion charging the air,

with intense enthusiasm,

and opinions.

Everyone seems to have one,

and everyone is voicing it.

---

Hey, what’s that sound.

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The buzz in the air is steady…

discordant,

raucous.

I hear songs,

clever chants,

folks straining to make their voices heard.

---

Singing songs and carrying signs.

---

The banners and signs are everywhere.

Literally.

In hands on every corner.

Some are funny.

Some are savage.

It doesn’t take long to figure out which side someone is on.

It’s either red,

or, it’s blue.

---

Mostly say, hooray for our side.

---

For now, it’s peaceful.

But, as the day wears on,

nerves will fray,

and patience will begin to wear thin.

The heat and the hatred will take over.

The sun and the moist air will see to that.

---

What a field day for the heat.

---

The hostility is already ramping up.

Groups are congregating.

Staking out territory.

A streaming mass of humanity split in two…

right down the middle.

---

There’s battle lines being drawn.

---

Blue over here, red over there.

Both sides equally confidant of where they stand.

Neither side willing, or even able,

to give an inch.

---

Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong.

---

Adults are starting to yell at each other.

Screaming obscenities in each other’s faces.

Small kids are even getting in on the action…

trading cheap shots as they pass in the crowd.

---

Children what’s that sound?

---

So much turmoil,

vitriol,

and venom.

A gang of teenagers roaming, looking to stir up trouble.

Rowdy, riled up, and ready to go at a moments notice.

---

Young people speaking their minds,

are getting so much resistance from behind.

---

Each loudly shouted comment brings a more aggressive one in return.

A minor skirmish grabs my attention.

Two adult males getting a little frisky.

Alcohol is playing a part in this battle of wills.

Security personnel step in to clear things up.

---

There’s a man with gun over there,

a-telling me I got to beware.

---

No major incidents…

yet.

But, the passion is rising.

The steam is building.

The pot is boiling.

---

There’s something happening here,

But what it is ain’t exactly clear.

---

This wildly roiling mob,

of two distinct colors,

now moving in mass as one.

Raging…

and ready.

---

Everybody look what’s going down.

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It’s time to head into the arena.

The Iron Bowl is almost here.

The annual gridiron skirmish between the University of Alabama and Auburn University.

The Crimson Tide versus the Tigers in a battle between two of the most heated rivals in college football.

A street fight disguised as a football game.

Time for the fans to take a step back,

and let the teams settle it on the field.

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Thanks for reading!

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