unemployment (Photo credit: Sean MacEntee)
Can’t deny that these times are harsh
Unemployment is skyrocketing
Life no longer plush
Can’t afford a movie
Or going out to eat
Forget about a vacation
It’s simply not allowed
With the cutting back
And all the cutting out
You’d think there’d be a few pennies
To splurge and throw about
But no, there’s not
There’s only a lack of “got”
Towards the end of each month
We eat only rice and lentils–
No desserts or other special vittles
But there is one thing
That I still can do…
Not go into that night…quiet or gentle.
Poets United invites us to participate in Vice Versa # 8 using the words deny/allow, harsh/gentle: http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/2012/07/vice-versa-8.html
Also linking this to dVerse Poets, Open Link Night with Joseph Hesch as our host: http://dversepoets.com/2012/07/24/open-link-night-week-54/
Mama Zen
/ July 24, 2012I plan to go kicking and screaming!
I liked this a lot!
Bodhirose
/ July 24, 2012Yeah! Thanks, MZ.
brian miller
/ July 24, 2012nope…i plan not goign gentle into the night myself….just lost my job today…ha…madness surely right int he middle of vacation…thus the thoughts in my poem…and what i will return to in a few days….ugh…i will not lay down down…there is life yet to live….
Susan
/ July 24, 2012Brian, did I hear you right? No wonder the tone of panic. You are not alone. Breathe!
Bodhirose
/ July 24, 2012I’m so sorry to hear that, Brian…seems a bit cruel…in the middle of a family vacation. Now I understand your poem better. No, I can’t see you laying down…so much life to live with your wonderful family…you’re just getting going!
Heaven (@asweetlust)
/ July 24, 2012I am sorry to hear about this Brian ~ But your situation is not so different ~ Have faith ~
Daydreamertoo
/ July 24, 2012Oh, I know all too well the scrimping and scraping to get by through the months. Not easy is it, and, it gets disheartening too.
Very good write Gayle.
Bodhirose
/ July 24, 2012Yes, it can be monotonous and disheartening when it goes on and on…not easy but still must have faith…in what, I’m not so sure…
Thanks, Bren.
Susan
/ July 24, 2012Where there is breath and life, there is fight! Hopefully, friends and family and returns will come in before we start eating leather soles.
Bodhirose
/ July 24, 2012You’re right…there’s still plenty of fight. But what’s this vegetarian to eat? Maybe dandelions out in the yard… :)
Myrna
/ July 24, 2012I hope to live (energetically, intentionally) ’til I die. Love your poem.
Bodhirose
/ July 24, 2012A good plan, Myrna…thanks so much.
Heaven (@asweetlust)
/ July 24, 2012Times are hard….I so know it…but I have hope all will come to pass, and we will yet live full and energetic days ~
Bodhirose
/ July 24, 2012I do hope we can recover completely and be even stronger than before. We must turn things around… I feel encouraged by your positive words, Grace…for all of us.
kaykuala
/ July 24, 2012Times are hard! And we’ve not seen the worst,! What is worst is that it’s global and we are all waiting for the crunch to knock hard on us. We’ve seen Greece, now Spain! The decision makers to stifle the ‘disaster’ seemed bothered more about their own survival.
Great write Gayle!
Hank
Bodhirose
/ July 25, 2012That’s my fear, that we haven’t reached the bottom of the pit yet. Our decision makers always see to it that their pockets are heavily lined…they don’t seem to care about the “big picture”. What a shame…
Thank you, Hank…appreciate your input.
Raivenne
/ July 24, 2012Harsh reality, but with hope. That is the spirit, keep fighting – this too shall pass – there are better days ahead.
Bodhirose
/ July 25, 2012So many in the same circumstances or much worse… I’ve never seen it this bad before in my lifetime…but I do have hope for better days…for us all.
zongrik
/ July 24, 2012why did you have to say can’t afford a movie? made me think of how i want to see Batman, Spiderman and The Avengers and it’s sooooo much money
Bodhirose
/ July 25, 2012Awww…I’m sorry..it is a lot of money to go to the movies…too much. I may wait a little while to see them but I love Netflix!
Claudia
/ July 25, 2012love the closure..reminded me of dylan thomas’ piece and so true..keep on fighting..the worst thing is when we give up
Bodhirose
/ July 25, 2012Yes, I shared the idea from his poem in my closing. I really feel blessed…I’m not so bad off as many are.
ayala
/ July 25, 2012May hope carry you through hard times. So sad to hear about Brian as well.1
Bodhirose
/ July 25, 2012I appreciate your compassionate words, Ayala…thanks…and I’m sure Brian does too.
K. McGee
/ July 25, 2012“There’s only a lack of “got”.”
I love this line – it has punch!
Unfortunately some do go into the darkness, as their “got god” crumbles. Don’t you wish you could help them see that life, love, and love of life are greater than wealth?
Bodhirose
/ July 25, 2012Oh, that “got God”…so much more entrenched in some people…it can become a disease of sorts. But some are having trouble even covering their basic needs…food, shelter…that’s when it becomes really frightening.
Thank you, K…you make good points!
Daydreamer
/ July 25, 2012Heard loud and clear! Do not go gentle into that good night. Chart topping records of unemployment and rising! Even those who are employed are experiencing this lack of “got”! Well written!
Bodhirose
/ July 25, 2012Thank you so much…I appreciate your input!
Jamie Dedes
/ July 26, 2012Oh my. Isn’t this the sad truth. Hard times in river city … well illustrated here. Nicely done, Gayle. Bravo!
Bodhirose
/ July 26, 2012Yes, a sad, hard truth for too many these days… Thanks for the “bravo.”
Sharp Little Pencil
/ July 27, 2012Gayle, you are so right about the state of things, and it’s everywhere. Me No Gots. And yet, here we are, together in the blogosphere, sharing our most intimate thoughts. Me, I’m going kicking and screaming, but let’s none of us be in a hurry, OK? Love, Amy
http://sharplittlepencil.com/2012/07/24/real-women-dverse/
Bodhirose
/ July 27, 2012Yeah, I think there may be a lot of “Me No Gots” in the blogosphere. It’s been a very beneficial occupation for me since I don’t have a “real” occupation. No, not in a hurry… :)
Mary
/ July 27, 2012You definitely have described the plight of many families in these hard times. Well written. Thanks for taking part in Vice/Versa.
Bodhirose
/ July 27, 2012Yes, sadly it’s true. And, thanks Mary…it was fun joining in.
lucychili
/ July 27, 2012hug. yes many people have a difficult time and some people it seems are disconnected from society. it is a strange world.
Bodhirose
/ July 27, 2012I would agree…it’s become a strange world. I’m very curious as to where we will all end up. Thanks for the hug, Lucy.. :)
Sue Dreamwalker
/ July 27, 2012Yes times are tough for many, and you weaved your poem so well.. One thing we still do not get charged for is the air we breath…. and today after all the rain we have been having over the last 6 weeks.. today the Sun is out and shinning once again.. Nature is still to be enjoyed..
Working as I do with those on Benifits, as a Support Worker , Life is only going to get harder for some as government cutbacks dig in not only to everyones pockets but also their care packages too..
Bodhirose
/ July 27, 2012I am enjoying nature too…I usually do. The weather is super hot and humid here in Florida so I mostly stay indoors except for a little gardening. Solid rain is hard to take isn’t it…I tend to feel a little depressed after a while if I don’t see the sun for too many days. Glad to hear the sun is out once again for you.
Well you know that’s the very scary part…that those unfortunate ones that need help aren’t going to be able to find it…what in the world is going to happen to them? You must be asking yourself that very same question, Sue.
Leo
/ July 29, 2012If it’s gonna happen, might as well go in fighting :)
Leo
Bodhirose
/ July 29, 2012That’s exactly right, Leo. :)
Madeleine Begun Kane
/ July 29, 2012Great job with that prompt! Excellent!
Bodhirose
/ July 29, 2012So glad you liked my idea, Madeleine..thank you!
bardessdmdenton
/ August 1, 2012Excellent, Gayle. Love: There’s only a lack of “got”
Bodhirose
/ August 3, 2012Thank you, Diane..I appreciate that.
dragonkatet
/ August 2, 2012The “gots” vs. the “got nots”! Well said! Love that you alluded to that poem by Thomas. Go down fighting, indeed. It may very well come to that, ya know…when the poor starve, will they eat the rich? IS the answer to 1984 1776? We shall see. Albeit a hard and scary time in which we live, at least we can’t complain about it being boring, eh? ;)
Bodhirose
/ August 3, 2012No, that’s for sure..not boring…but it is scary. It’s rough out there for so many. Yeah, don’t go down without fighting with all you have. I sure hope it doesn’t come to something even uglier than what we are facing now… Thanks, Corina.