#228 Did You Not Expect Us

"Did you not expect us?"

It was a call echoed loud throughout the land

This protest wasn't coordinated

This protest wasn't planned

It was simply and clearly what we had to do.

Ignited by all they had put us through.

We were so innocent, once upon a while

We'd laugh and joke, we'd dance and smile

They told us "you'll have it all

We'll push you high, you'll never fall

You'll have a job, and own your house

You'll settle young and find your spouse

Go to University, get a degree

You'll be debt-free in a year or three

Head down, work hard

Pay off debt with credit cards

Get up early, work 'til late

Come on now don't hesitate

Don't be lazy, don't be slow

Don't go crazy, never show

Any pain or any fear"

Until we shouted ENOUGH

...but they didn't hear.

They wondered why we were complaining

About this bright future we were gaining

A world in which the plants are dying

A world in which the planet is dying

Where they gave us medals, just for trying

Inspiring those who were in last place,

And then threw it right back in our face

Moaning and complaining about 'kids these days'

While never considering, if there is a problem, it's with the way and world in which we were raised.

And so. And so, this protest started to grow.

Filled with those with nowhere else to go

Those struggling hard to pay their rent

Those with a debt they just couldn't dent

Those who were depressed, annoyed, and fed up

Many friends with mental health problems, told the solution was to man up

Those told, because you're young and different, your art isn't valid,

Those told, because you weren't born here, this isn't your land

Those who'd overcome great apathy, and were finally making a stand

Together we chanted, together we roared

Together we finally could not be ignored

It was loud, it was righteous, and it was infectious!

And yet, still, they stood there incredulous

As we finally realised, they would never expect us.

***

https://harryisapoet.blogspot.com/2017/05/did-you-not-expect-us.html