Snowflake Generation

The arrival of snowflakes on the window pane
Prompts me to ask who can explain
This latest category or classification
Evolution’s most recent human mutation

A little research gives quite a surprise
When one finds in each decade there did arise
A new label by which we can signify
The main characteristics thus identify

The Forgotten Generation ended in 1910
The War years yielded the Greatest Generation of men
From 1926 till after the World War in ‘45
The Generation seemed Silent although still alive

From 1946 the Baby Boomers took us by storm
The post war youngsters were no longer forlorn
The had it all, jobs, houses and increasing wealth
Prosperity had sneaked up on us as if by stealth

1966 – 1980 was defined as Generation X
Society much changed, liberating the fair sex
Latchkey children became commonplace
As blended families joined the rat race

1981 to 2000 the age of the Millennial
Much celebration as we hit the centennial
Almost every youngster became a student
Although for their future this may not have been prudent

From 2001 the label was Generation Z
Although Snowflake now has been adopted instead
It appears our young adults have become hypersensitive
And on their virtuous opinions they are quite argumentative

I wonder if all our bright glistening snowflakes
As they go through life will have what it takes
Or will they simply melt for lack of protection
From the challenge of life as they strive for perfection?

Ken Fisher

The Family – Together!

On a cushion cover in a home furnishing store
Why would you wish for anything more?
‘Family together we have it all’  it declares
If you are not now in a family you might well despair

Like the cushion itself, these words seem inflated
Puffed up to make claims quite exaggerated
Togetherness in families is not always a feature
For familial camaraderie not everyone’s eager

And what does it mean that ‘we have it all’?
We might be the curators of things that appall
Our flashy possessions and glitzy life style
From your point of view are hardly worthwhile

And as for the habits some families display
Such common behaviour you would surely dismay
So when jointly families aspire to have it all
Would that they hid behind their Chinese wall

But perhaps these sentiments are too condemnatory
And certainly of families at large, not the whole story
Many kinship groups unite to act with verve
And together each other they willingly serve

So perhaps the family is at its creative best
When its collective energy they would invest
Outward looking to others where they see any need
Inwardly supporting by kind words and deeds

Ken Fisher