Orphaned Islands (Un)poetry

Every grouping and profession has an absolute truth
known not to be
whispered certainty shouted out loud.
sorority allegiance, fraternity oath – unquestioning.
Airline pilots are never frightened.
Stockbrokers always see opportunity.
Politicians certain of victory.
Boxers trash opponents as whipping boys.

For a time faith turned away from pomp
preferring weekday liturgical snacks to
full meal of Sunday High Mass.
Devotee as consumer. Worship a la carte.

With lack of clutter and ceremony
expectation predicted a more reflective service.
Possibly one quiet thought stretched to insight
Not always. Sometimes the lunchtime express. No stops.
One day
surprise
from a source judgement thought supercilious.
An explanation of scripture and the role of prayer
taught by doctrine to be communication with God.

He said he was 73 years old
had been a priest for 51 of them.
In all that time and prayer
only once
for a single hour did he find that connection.
Just that one time – many years ago
the rest of his priesthood
spent in pursuit of re-encounter.

A veil lifts and anguish recedes
dawn streaks of resignation
puncture the darkness of grief.
It has been a long way back.

Friends have become indifferent
boredom has replaced concern.

In youth, pride cloaks emotions
insouciance and detachment project
counterfeit messages of the heart
always play it cool – never flinch.

Now truth is important
even as it betrays desperation.
Madness stalked
waiting patiently
expectant
not quite welcomed
not quite evicted. A close run thing.

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.