Go to sleep
Don’t be afraid
there’s a door between you
and the street
a spy hole
for you to peep out in the dark
double glazing to dampen
the sound of footsteps
on the path
a walking stick
tapping in the hall
security lights
a smoke alarm
a banister to stay your fall
a grab rail by the shower
handles on the bath
a red blanket
water by your bed
an extra loud telephone
they’ve thought of everything
©Angela
Croft
Good
luck, Angela
..................................................................................................
Expect
no gratitude!
Expect no gratitude for the Herculean toil
which kept home fires burning and factories a’churning;
as the miners found out when their jobs were taken
by the political vassals of the men of oil!
No more comes the cry ‘tis your duty to your nation’,
Discarded; ‘tis now “You,
keep to your station!”
Forgotten the multitudinous souls of the dead,
expended ‘for
the Nation in it’s hour of need’.
Old soldiers, redundant once war’s dogs are re-leashed
If lucky have a pittance to buy a little bread.
And now comes the stricture to “get on your bike;
if a job you would seek, then
take a hike!”
Their sons hold the reins, are now in charge of
affairs,
to “Progress and Efficiency” are firmly wed;
they who follow the creed of their bosses and bankers -
have forgotten the sacrifice of their forbears.
“The
Society you thought of is all a falsehood
-
the
only worthy goal is your own good!”
Long service brings not the reward you thought,
‘The market is down, so it’s all rather tough!’
Your savings and stamps now worth little enough;
the pension worth nothing which you dearly bought.
“You
should have saved harder, and put more
aside!”
You no longer have value, your whole life they deride.
What
happened? Why, we got old!
Stephen
Barraclough
