If All were Hardworking

Imagine a world where everyone worked,

And it was unthinkable anyone shirked.

Where what needed doing was instantly done,

And it wouldn’t occur to the fit they might shun

The hard work involved that they all might live well,

At the thought of hard work not a soul would rebel.

A country would end up much richer by far

If there were no indolent people to mar

The efforts of those who were trying to ensure

Their future would end up both safe and secure

Rather than facing a future that was

Poor and uncertain and mainly because

They hadn’t worked hard that their lives might improve,

Instead of remaining in poverty’s groove.

A Man of Courage

Many important people refuse

To acknowledge the truth, but rather choose

To just pretend it doesn’t exist,

Ignoring the fact that they have missed

A chance to proclaim what they know to be right;

Instead they keep their views out of sight,

For they know they’ll be criticised if they dare

To tell the truth; as so many don’t share

A liking to know things how they are;

From the world as it is, they are often far,

Living a life that’s safe and secure,

For them the truth may have little allure,

Especially if it doesn’t conform

To what has become the current norm.

But just occasionally you will find,

A man of courage, who doesn’t mind

Standing up for what it true,

Who doesn’t care if only a few

Will be prepared to say they agree,

Though it is plain for all to see

It is the truth, though hard to bear,

To those whose beliefs tend to lead elsewhere,

Telling the truth can sometimes result

In everyone saying that they are at fault,

But the world needs more people prepared to stand

Beside the somewhat tiny band

Who have the vision to see the truth

And cannot in conscience stand aloof

And not proclaim it, because they know

That is the way they have to go.

The Effects of Faith

Faith often plays a major part

In people’s lives; just for a start

It is a very well-known fact,

It can determine how people act.

Just think of Quakers, who don’t fight,

For they believe it’s never right.

But rather something they abhor,

While other faiths delight in war.

Or think of Catholics who believe

A child’s a gift they should receive

With endless love and care and joy,

Which they never should destroy.

Or think of Christians who’re allowed

Just one wife and not a crowd;

Or those whose faith demands that they

Fast at certain times of day,

Or cannot, though it might seem strange

Eat a widely varying range

Of different foods in common use,

For reasons that are quite obtuse.

Or Jains who always try to save

Insects from an early grave.

Or those who think that women should

Stay out of sight, for their own good,

And think it right to beat their wives,

And in extremis, end their lives.

Those whose faith demands they work,

For whom it is a sin to shirk,

And to whom it seems quite mete

The lazy have no right to eat.

Faith affects how people live,

How much they take, how much they give,

Often providing a vital link

To how they will behave and think.

Time for a New Law

Why does it happen that when companies fail

So often one finds if one follows the trail

To find out the reasons, the more that one delves,

The more one finds people were helping themselves

To all of the assets in various ways,

Keeping it hidden from everyone’s gaze,

By using the names of a series of firms,

Acting, of course, on their real owner’s terms,

The owners who only desire to ensure

Their assets increase as the firm’s become fewer.

Hundreds of millions may pass out of sight;

It may be all legal; there’s no way it’s right

That people who’ve worked all their lives should then find

The pension they hoped would ensure peace of mind

Is no longer there, as the owners have spent

The monies the workers had hoped would have meant

They’d have a small pension when they were retired

From what they’d contributed since they were hired.

Perhaps what we need is a law that would say

No owner can take all and just walk away,

Smiling and lacking the slightest regret

That they are now rich while the  firm’s deep in debt

My Printer Needs Replacing

My printer seems to have a mind which really is its own,

And never seems to listen to the times I have  moan;

The flashing light goes on and on before it starts to print,

Even though it’s rarely asked to do a le3ngthy stint.

It churns away for ages  trying to grasp a single sheet,

And when it does it often fails to come out straight and neat;

And then it takes two sheets or more, although they can’t pass through,

And so it stops, with red light on, half-printed sheets in view;

So I have to switch it off and open up the front,

Which really is a nuisance if I want to be quite blunt.
I think I’ve almost reached the stage where it will have to go,

Since it’s so temperamental and has now become so slow,

Though it’s served me very well for long years in the past,

I really need a new one that’s reliable and fast.

Still Hoping for Spring

Maybe winter isn’t over, and the spring has still to come,

For the recent warmth has vanished, and again I’m cold and numb;

When we had those days of sunshine, I was sure spring  had arrived,

And I offered up a thank you that the winter I’d survived.

But it seems I spoke too early, for the rain and wind and snow,

Have returned and wrought their havoc everywhere on earth below.

So I wait till it all passes and I can correctly say,

Spring’s arrived in all its beauty, rather than just on the way.

Stop Interfering

The world might be a better place if countries would refrain

From interference in affairs outside of their domain;

Leaders may enjoy the chance to move to centre stage,

Pontificating loudly as they’ve done in every age;

Telling other leaders how they ought to rule their lands,

Suggesting that their people are in danger in their hands;

Encouraging dissension and the rise of rebel groups,

Hinting they might be prepared to arm the rebel troops.

Making deals behind the scenes, that no-one outside knows,

So they later can withdraw if opposition grows.

Invading other countries that to them present no threat

Just because demands they’ve made they’re sure will not be met.

If only powerful countries would but cease to interfere

In things that don’t concern them, then it really does seem clear

The world might be much better, for this would seem the cause

Of so much trouble everywhere, as well as constant wars.