Young Fred Poem by Francis Duggan

He's applied for work in factories and buildings
And every time the bosses turn him down
And all because he's poorly educated
And he comes from the wrong side of the town.

Or because the job interviewer did not like his manner
And he did not do well in the interview
To get that job you must appear to grovel
And answer yes sir, no sir and thank you.

The holes he has in his jeans tell against him
To get that job you must be looking neat
When jobs are scarce and there's so many job seekers
You must dress conservative to compete.

They never comment on your dress or manners
These bosses in a sly way act polite
They always say you don't call us we will call you
Or for this job you somehow don't seem right.

He's from the wrong side of the town young Freddy
His suburb is known as a den of crime
A place of welfare and high unemployment
And his search for work has been a waste of time.

For his address to employers is a no no
People from such places they won't employ
They always say you don't suit the position
But good of you just the same to apply.

As a job seeker his address is against him
He may find work if he moved to elsewhere
But he can't afford that or to buy better clothing
All in this life is totally not fair.

And whoever said in God's eyes we all are equal
Must only have been speaking of the dead
For in human life equality doesn't exist
You only have to ask one like young Fred.