Bicentennial

I love how the first stanza is truly an introduction to the reader.  "Move with me now, for I need company."  In fact, I love the rhythm of this work.

I think that the author paints a good picture of what it is he is trying to get across.  His life is very ordinary and nothing tragic has ever come his way.  He seeks powerful, overwhelming emotion.  Ironically, it seems he is overwhelmed with emotion though.  Instead he takes ecstasy.  Where the serotonin high must make him feel everything.

stanza response:
He reiterates "what being a part of the country feels like" three times, which confuses me just a bit.  I like the visual i get thinking about this huge lake party full of people drinking and dancing, maybe in patriotic colors or waving flags.  He says everyone, including the people he found out to be hippies, acted as if they were happy there - which makes me think of our world today.  Many are protesting our President but come July 4th, each and everyone of them will probably throw a barbecue and drink their beers.  He mentions "code" here first, but then again in later stanzas.  I think this is where he starts to bring about the people that were kind to him.