Blind River Poem in Provincial Competition, The Standard 1997

Blind River poem in provincial competition

BLIND RIVER - A former student at the Adult Education Centre here will have his poem compete at the provincial level.

Rod White won the regional Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation 1997 - Marion Drysdale Awards in the adult learner class with his poem And The Times, They Are A' Changing.

The poem chronicles the struggle many face to fill their families needs in an economy in disarray.

Here is his poem:

And The Times, They Are A' Changing

I remember a time, so long ago

When working was a pleasure;

A man could buy, and satisfy

His family, and its leisure.

Something has happened since then,though:

It becomes harder to fill one's purse;

And rising costs, and jobs that are lost,

Are making things much worse.

Who is to blame for all of this?

I don't think it matters;

The problem is there, and I'm aware

The whole country is in tatters.

A Baby Boomer is who I am,

Too old to be productive;

Or so I'm told, but if I may be so bold,

I find this view obstructive.

Yes, the sands shift beneath my feet,

So I can barely stand;

But I will not fall, I'll crash that wall,

My resume in hand.

I will not let them wear me down,

Against all odds I'll win;

And most of all, I will not stall,

Because I'll try - and try again.