For A While. Poem by Michael Crowder

I'm getting on now, I see differently.
Not opposed to change, but things just seem
fearful, and growing disorderly.
Respect of lawful authority
seems dead and gone: ignored, or unseen,
there's parts at night, it's not safe to-be.
Hope, fear, greed spurs chasers round the earth,
leave behind, needful countries of birth,
it doesn't matter, go where you want,
make the most, of what others have - worked
hard, fought long; and took years to achieve.
The whirlwind of prices that reave peace
from many poor-souls without recourse
but to live frugally, on their knees.
'Come to invest' the 'trickle-downs' bay,
help yourself, we are, the very place
where fat-cats come first, and thus, best-fed.
So what should be done. I don't subsume
in categories and social groups
that algorithms for me assume.
At night when I retire finally,
and close these, near to now useless eyes:
I hear words from Leonard Cohens' song
'tonight, things will be fine: will be fine:
will be fine:
For a while'.

for a while 17th September 22
Michael C Crowder @scorsby