Oil Jackpot In Norway Poem by Jan Oskar Hansen

Oil jackpot

When coming home from the ship, his coastal town
was in an uproar from every window, people shouted
and banged pot pans together
People danced in the street, which was unheard of
young people shamelessly made love under oaks
so eagerly that trees that had been around forever
lost their leaves.
At home, his mother hollered, from the window
we are richer than the Americans, wealthier then
the Saudis.
His father said, no point going back to see if we can
Pakistanis and the Philippines for this.
People had forgotten the socialist state had a word
the money made in this bonanza was for future use
the currency was put in a fond, already rich could lend
money, from this fond and get richer.
For the plebs, there was little to gain and as seamen
the ship owners changed their flag and hired people for
a low-priced pay and no vacation
Goodbye Merchant navy, you served the nation well.