Friday’s Poetic Pause: “Generations”

Hearing a lot of grumblings about the younger generation over the last couple of weeks, e.g. “those darn junior staff” “those darn occupiers”. So I wanted to offer a poem I wrote inspired by them for today’s poetic pause.

After all, it wasn't that long ago that I was a "budding" aid worker. Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe 2003

Generations

“They do not know their place.”
But they speak now, offer thoughts and opinions and saving graces,
only often without the grace.

“Let us be blind and ignorant.
“Let us be free and fair and found”
They whisper below the frequency of sound.

They see a change, a possibility now veiled to us.
If your wisdom be such a stalwart,
why is it so obvious to them?
Why then do they want to tear down the walls?

The babes, they deserve protection and encouragement,
usher, don’t belittle and constrain.

Can we allow for stumble,
or lose them to a static world
of our own making?

They offer.

We choose.

***

Have some poems you’ve written or treasured that you’d like to share with fellow aid workers and do-gooders? Please send them my way at email.howmatters@gmail.com!

***

Related Posts

Friday’s Poetic Pause: “The Place Where We Are Right” by Yehuda Amichai

Friday’s Poetic Pause: “Easter Exultet” by James Broughton

Friday’s Poetic Pause: “Whatever Gives Pleasure” by Rumi

Friday’s Poetic Pause: “Utopia” by Wislawa Szymborska

Coming Out of the Closet

One Comment

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