The birthing and the three subsequent deaths of Gen X

When the prices of gold and oil were challenged
and the gold standard died and the oil standard born
economy replaced will and within three years disco folk.
Familiarity died
and once everything had its price
the whore took the reins.
After five years of her disinterest
vice had turned into excess
and the outlook black over it
or the remedy proposed.
Five more years of bitter struggle
and the crowd dissolved,
and with it the world it shared,
retreating to perceptive self-indulgence
- and cynicism has ruled ever since.