Poetry Thursday 156 - Poor Kids

 It's August already. In the UK, the month that spews forth exam results mostly for 16 and 18 year olds. I remember receiving a brown envelope. I was home alone, and the dry-mouth feeling on reading that my results were inadequate for my initial applications to college. I was ok in the end. This is not an uncommon scenario and will be re-lived time and again. It still creates stress. Seven years ago Covid was an additional problem. 

Poor Kids

 

At least seven long years inside,

booby traps being part of the ride,

working as hard as you feel you can,

towards the goals that will make you a man.

 

The bully sharks are hunting intake prey,

the playground a tarmac sea of grey,

adults enormous hurdles to negotiate,

groups with whom you should not associate.

 

Subject to a myriad of others’ opinions,

just one of a tranche of newer minions,

where to fit to succeed in this place,

and become a full member of the human race.

 

Through the years one finds a slot,

it may be uncomfortable in life’s plot,

but short-lived discomfort leads to progress,

based on your examination finesse.

 

However, in 2020 along comes a virus,

catching it is in no way desirous,

school on hold for an extended period,

number of after effects a significant myriad.

 

Exams come round with every year,

regular as clockwork instilling fear,

in many of the teenage reluctant takers,

and controlled by national question writers.

Not this year due to virus attack,

children at home - efforts are slack,

but next steps in the future still there,

 will the exam establishment be aware.

 

Results Thursday came and went,

the children were sad or perhaps content,

an algorithm was applied to predicted scores,

grades were reduced causing great uproars.

 

The establishment had scored another own goal,

Ofqual regulator had failed in its role,

assuming that their solution had been correct,

resulting in many young futures wrecked. 

 

Where are the shoulders to take responsibility,

who will resign due to lack of capability?

Suddenly the talking heads spouting wise,

are no longer available irrespective of prize.

© David L Atkinson August 2020 

God Bless 

Poetry Thursday 148 - News or Not News

My father read the newspaper daily. He watched the news on TV and listened to it on the radio. In our present world, where the newspapers, TV and Radio stations can be bought and sold on a whim; where the owners control the stories that are delivered; where news can be generated by AI; and, where the internet is supposedly many peoples' source of news. I wonder if he was alive today, what he'd think. 

News or Not News

 

So you believe you are important,

that your life is significant,

you go to work and pay your tax,

you watch the news and hear the facts,

and believe that you’re a part,

right from the very start.

 

But just think on a bit,

how much control have you got of it,

when you get to work they tell you what to do,

in the news you find what’s good for you,

but feel safe because of democracy,

you can always vote for another party.

 

Will it make a difference,

is the news unambiguous,

who bought the news this week,

what truths are they telling you to seek,

how do you make choices,

when facts are controlled by different voices.

©David L Atkinson June 2026 

God Bless 

Writing - Educating

 When you choose to write, it is my opinion that you have also chosen to disseminate information. It’s almost like being a podcaster while indulging in creativity. Of course, this is a voluntary role. What is written is entirely up to the author. 

Educating is part of my raison d’etre and so not a surprise that I am saying this. It is an opportunity rather than a necessity. The type of information that I believe may be useful is the correction of commonly held misconceptions. Obviously,  passing information on needs to be relevant to what you’re writing about at the time.

One such misconception is the often trumpeted complaint from the politically short-sighted that immigrants are taking our jobs. As long as I can remember, people from other parts of the world have been invited to the UK to take up job opportunities to fill a gap in the available workforce. The current situation is slightly different in that immigrants are seen as cheap labour by oligarchs and giant corporations, so more accurate to say that the super-rich are taking jobs. As in all political situations, this is very complex, and it is disingenuous to mislead the populace by using trite, emotive statements. Professionals coming to the UK to take up positions are not the problem, as they are fulfilling a shortage. 

Such positions are not always easy to place in your writing and can appear clumsy if not woven into a narrative to feel natural. I’m not suggesting that every writer should always have their ‘soapbox’ on hand, but not to miss opportunities to right wrongs. 

God Bless