The Stretched Generation

(On call to young and old…)

Employment ended, time of ease
doing what and when you please:

family and friends feel freer
to see if you will volunteer:
frantic mums with fretful child –
whining, wilful, – washing piled,
jaded, tired, worried, jitters,
school pick-ups, or evening sitters;
older relatives’ confusions,
– failing, falling, operations,
lonely, glad a voice to hear,
see a friendly face appear
reassuring, fetching shopping,
bringing news, and cheer while stopping …
organizations make appeals
for assistants, meals-on-wheels …
looking for more volunteers
who have finished their careers,
and have time to give to others;

not put under pressure, censure;
feeling free to choose to do
what you think is best for you, –
(no-one wants you stressed out too!)
happier, better, being busy,
than just drifting, lounging, lazy,
preserved at least from boredom’s span, –
appreciated while we can.