Category: Truth

I was born the year Kennedy campaigned for a new frontier
before Vietnam
before the Beatles
before the Summer of Love
the decade synonymous with counterculture and revolution
didn’t swing until middle age.
The 1950s continued – predictable, hierarchical, complacent
God-fearing and unquestioning
an unchanged and unchanging world
until the baby boomers went to college.

The baby boomers :social structure demolition experts.
Marriage, sexism, racial inequality, single income families
the legal system, churches, governments, corporations
they took them all on – and inflicted defeat.
Inheritance is not always grateful
frequently dismissive of forebears
arrogance knows the present to be superior
impatience snatches for the baton change of generation.

Now middle aged hormones pound less vigorously
surety of superannuation and spectre of redundancy
have replaced the anticipation of a wild night
and  fear of uninvited consequences.
Reflection ponders the random entry to the world
and reign as young generation
after reliable contraception – before AIDS
between the cold of the iron curtain and the heat of terrorism.

Youth was too young to know the assassinations
or the draft
backpacks and sleeping bags grown out of before 9/11.

Still, age never seems quite right or comfortable
unable to look at either history or future without disdain.
Memory of vast impatience with the old
is unable to hear the doorbell of the new.
Time forces reluctant succession
abdication pouts imagining diminution.
The podium finish of the title of the young generation
has passed to the lesser deserving. An unfair eviction.

Australia tall blue sky
wide red earth
sunlight of corroded zinc
and people corrugated iron.
A continent
of scorched inner space
orbited by urban planets.
At the centre
vast loneliness and sprinklings of people
a cathedral with echoing congregation.

He must have been in the prime of youth then
a young priest in an ancient landscape
flying to remote settlements in almost desert
conducting services, hearing confessions, lifting monotony.
One family became a favourite
the wife strongly religious, the children compulsorily so
strangely for the conservative 1950’s, the husband a non believer.

The randomness of the world permits unlikely alliances
sacred and sceptic found friendship
common passions in sport and politics. No sex or religion.
the nature of their difference profound – and inconsequential.

Random also are the selections of the Grim Reaper
strictly neutral
no fear or favour.
Clear skies and dark illness
the agnostic faded quickly : the priest summoned.

Like an attorney coaxing a jury he attempted to persuade
backdoor absolution fully valid – a guarantee in gold.
The soon-to-be departed listened  without interruption
“ no mate,” he tells the priest, “ that’s cheating.”

The phone call never came
ten days later a letter does.
Thank you ……
Please find enclosed …..
We wish you well ….

The equation of necessity
multiply hours by rate
subtract utilities
divide by mortgage
> outgoings
< ideal
= acceptable
not impressive, but it’s not about money anymore.
That part he doesn’t understand
a mistake – one of two.

I’m asked for a strategy
a system is needed
there is none at present
I am new myself he bristles. The second mistake.

The letter is late
the outcome already known.
Despite the fervent prayer for a miracle
the contents are predictable.
Thank you for attending…
Curt and courteous
payback  is well mannered.