“a great tragedy has befallen
the young people of
this generation”

“they are so trite,
so supercilious,
so full of greed,
and now, now,
now”

“I miss the old days”

he said,
stressing each
syllable as if a thief
might steal them
away if he did not weigh
them down
enough

“when you were expected
to be something. have some
merit.”

“everybody had to earn
their living.”

“but now all we’ve got shiny,
plastic crap and chrome finished
phones that do everything for
you”

“what ever happened to wood
and steel and agonizing work?”

“I don’t I say”
with a shrug

“of course you don’t”

he said, like the millions
of other xenophobes so
afraid of the future they
aren't even aware of it

“you’re just one of
them”