The Vote

This is a spoken word for a University Project. Any feedback would be very gratefully recieved!! I return with why I don't vote. Ha ha politics!

Last year I wrote in blue,

this year in black,

but no one will care if you sat at the back

or the front of the class

as long as you pass.

Those special little letters

made up from an alphabet of six,

after seven years, six grades they pick

but they never tell you of the working class hero

with ambitions, who grew up as an academic "zero".

Working for the food in his babies' stomachs,

Tell me how that "A" in Maths would taste with butter,

and that "E" is the equivalent of nothing but utter

failure?  I'll never need Pythagoras' to buy milk and bread,

or scientific facts that are out dated when read .

Or even being told my wording is wrong,

knocked down in my subject

even if the answer written was correct,

Subtle conformity, that asks you all to submit

these pieces of work, that if they were shoes, would all have the same fit.

It's not I don't have dreams, I'm just more of a realist.

Your general studies teach nothing general at all,

where were the life studies in being a father of four?

When University is a luxury because nobody wants to know

when the gap year's not a gap year, for the reason you can't go.

The Debt, the confusion and perhaps even the grades.

While political parties make decisions to win over the crown

Where were our voices when this s**t went down?

That the decisions are made, by the top ten percent 

when I was too young to vote when they wanted this consent.

On my future, that isn't taught in schools.

Neither are politics, Paying bills or the struggle

that come with a lively juggle, 

that isn't bullying, sex or solvent addiction

with a math turned health teacher to give this presentation.

I don't doubt the teachers passion 

or those who help run our schools

But do you fear the future of the nation you rule?

Maybe it's the nursing homes, that have fewer rights than prison

and how maybe you'll suffer the fate you forced on every other person.

I call for equality with sound reasoning,

When listening to our concerns, try not to slam

That if we're old enough to undertake exams,

 and planning careers to be sought in the future

surely educating politics isn't too immature.

And while kids were getting pregnant,

It was you who demanded respect.

when all you could offer was a school suspension, benefits and neglect.

That "your elders are always right",  and that's the reason to believe

contesting my rights as a human is an ideal we achieve.

Yes, support that children should be children

and hold adult cultures at bay,

but when their minds are young you're judging them anyway , 

you're teaching them to aspire to University creeds,

and then holding up the out of reach deeds.

Conditioning me that Qualifications

are my only chance of success

then entering into uni with halls that just surpass

now my future is to think about a little place of my own

tagged with mortgages, debt, ISA's and regretted loans.

That the people who were forced to borrow, 

were the people who couldn't pay back.

That's how we landed in a recession owing money to the bank.

Reviews

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

This kick-the-can-down-the-road mentality of our politicians is really kicking our country in the a*s. They sell our souls to the devil, pocketing all the riches; and we are the ones who pay the price. For decades, both parties have contributed to the destruction of this country. Worse still are the mind-numbed, indoctrinated sycophants who blindly follow along, repeating whatever political caption is popular for the day, never giving a second thought to the fact that they are supporting their own serfdom. Until the American people unchain themselves from ignorance and quit sucking off the government feeding tube, we will continue to have these problems. We need to rise in unison and vote them all out of office. We need Americans who stand for America. We need to demand honesty and transparency and accountability. We cannot be an "I, I, I" society. We need to be a "we, we, we" society; and everyone needs to be a contributing member of society.

[KAOlmsted]

Nice and verbose...

[Tom]

An Academic education is not necessarily a sign of intelligence !

A most erudite, principle and well thought out poem, kudos indeed & certainly gets my vote !

[Nia Hope]

This is really deep. I'm an education Major and they really don't teach you anything useful in school that you can use when you are out of school. Like how to think and respect those around you. Awesome poem!

[Coyote Poetry]

"That the people who were forced to borrow,
were the people who couldn't pay back.
That's how we landed in a recession owing money to the bank."
You told the truth in the poem. Now the USA is in deep debt also. You open the doors to many topics. I believe need a strong family foundation. When both parent work. Who is teaching the kids? Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote