History Repeating

The Great Depression

CARRY ON TUESDAY

http://carryontuesday.blogspot.com/2009/10/blog-post_17.html

This week we have been asked to adapt the following:

the opening line from 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

'In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since'

HISTORY REPEATING!

In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave advice

That I've been turning over ever since.

For I've been forced to think of it far more than once or twice

Though, at the time, his wise words made me wince!

My father said 'Be a teacher! They're never unemployed!

In a Depression there's always work to do.

(I think he saw me bridle; I was really quite annoyed.)

' Jobs a that time were like diamonds; there were very few.
Why! I worked right through the thirties! I was never on the dole!
I took a cut in pay but that was all.
We always had enough for meat and rent and bags of coal,
While many workers' backs were to the wall!'
*

'Depressions' I said 'Were in YOUR time! This is nineteen-forty-nine!

There's so much work about we have a choice.

We modern people know that we have worked things out just fine!'

(I think a touch of scorn was in my voice!)

*

Still, I became a teacher as our parents' words were law,

Though I didn't really think of it 'for life'.

'Something else in the future' was just clutching at a straw!

(I'd be a famous writer or a wife!)

And teaching was quite pleasant. Why! I even had a flair

And many days were way, way more than 'nice',

But I sometimes felt a niggle for I felt it wasn't fair

That I'd been given so much dud advice.

*

But last year came the Credit Crunch and things were looking bad

And unemployment loomed, and jobs were few

And I said to my teacher son (an echo straight from Dad............)

'Teaching is great! There's always work to do!'

*

Teaching in the 1930s.

Another look at the era here:

http://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com/2009/01/256-delayed-publication.html