

POETS CORNERWITH THE COMING OF AGE02-10-2006Can we call thethe ban onage discrimination which came into force yesterday as"new" without actually breaking the law? Probably not, says The Stirrer's resident poet Brendan Hawthorne. Hmmm, where does this leave Old Father Time? Or the Fine Young cannibals? With The Coming of AgeIt was the same with smoking Ban it in the work place first and it will soon filter through into all aspects of social life And now in the New Age age has become a thing of the past in the offices and workshops of democracy and political correctness Terminology and policy make it so that phrases like ‘old git' or indeed ‘old codger' will now need to be replaced with the put down ‘git - or codger - of indeterminable status' Memories will also need to be kept out of day to day chit-chat as this could be deemed insulting to those who are numerically challenged on the years front or put another way deficient in annage In essence talking about the past or the good old days is dangerous as it could be termed as harassment and not banter by the faint-hearted in the Shires However the new law still allows the exploitation years for those under twenty-one The minimum wage is not for them and it defaults pension-age to sixty-five for all before the delete button can be fully depressed so that cradle-to-grave adopts a new spin because now the labour market is saturated with the potential of skill or ability not experience and knowledge Or put another way those who are gullible and cheap will go a long way towards long service awards that are due within five years without there needing to be an engraved carriage clock or gold watch in sight Perhaps birthdays should be ignored next along with button badge cards with ‘I am 40' emblazoned on them or even pipe and slipper retirement stereotypes could be replaced with ‘Lazy bastard! What you want to leave work at ninety-five for?' sentiments Let's face it you always were a jammy git of indeterminable status! Copyright 2006 Brendan Hawthorne Find out more about Brendan and regular poetry readings at www.wednesburypoets.co.uk |
©2006 The Stirrer