A response to a criticism of today’s youth … *

Times have changed,
of that there’s no doubt
Some facets are better
some we’re better without

But life isn’t static
we learn as we go
Let’s be realistic
we reap what we sow

“It was better in my day”
is a common refrain -
The young nowadays -
well they’re surely to blame

They don’t care any more,
not as we used to do,
They always ask, “Why?”
and argue what’s true.

They question religion
and refuse to eat meat,
Say our cars cause pollution,
so they’ll walk down the street

Why, they even hold rallies,
school children on strike!
“There’s a climate crisis!”
They shout through the mic.

Conservation, environment,
discrimination, abuse,
Women’s right to employment
and as much right to choose

How next, I must wonder,
will they show where we’ve failed,
as with consummate blunder
we’ve our planet derailed

It’s a minute to midnight,
so the scientists say
We’ve known it for decades
but greed got in the way

On our hands we still sit
many stand in the way
Their desire for profit
wastes day after day

Our young plead to government,
they march and they rally,
They tell us the truth
but our leaders cry, “folly”

Oh, if only we’d listen,
nostalgia’s no crime
but our noxious emissions
mean now’s not the time

So, be sad for youth
but not for their failings
for the issue, in truth
is all of our making

So I’ll bet you a shilling,
on this you can bank
If our planet survives
it will be youth we will thank.

_________________________

• Prompted by a nostalgic piece I read which was prefaced with the words: “The young ones don’t really appreciate community the way we did. So sad!” (I should add that it was written by someone I know to be a caring and very worthwhile person … but)