Expect No Gratitude Poem by Stephen Barraclough

Expect no gratitude!

Expect no gratitude for the Herculean toil
which kept home fires burning and factories a'churning;
as the miners found out when their jobs were taken
by the political vassals of the men of oil!
"No more"! comes the cry "tis your duty to your nation"
But ‘tis now "You! Keep to your station! "

Forgotten multitudinous souls of the dead,
expended ‘for the Nation in it's hour of need'.
Old soldiers, redundant once war's dogs are re-leashed
If lucky have a pittance to buy a little bread.
NOW comes the stricture "Go! Get on your bike;
if a job you would seek, then take a hike! "

Their sons hold the reins: - are now in charge of affairs
to "Progress and Efficiency" they're firmly wed;
they follow the creed of the rich and the bankers -
have forgotten the sacrifice of all their forbears.
"The Society you thought of is all a falsehood -
the only goal worthy is (Y) Our own good! "

Long service brings not the reward you thought,
‘The market is down, yes, it's all rather tough! '
Your savings and stamps now worth little enough;
that pension's worth nothing which you dearly bought.
"You should have saved harder, and put more aside! "
You have no real value, YOUR LIFE THEY DERIDE!
(What happened? Nothing, we simply got old!)

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