judyanne
judyanne
May 06, 2015
This poem is part of the contest:

May Contest

(Read More...)

The Generation Gap (May contest)

Poem Body

The generation gap is sometimes wider than we think.
When it comes to use of language, I've oft had cause to blink.
Each and every era has its own ideology,
and a result is a change in the meaning of words. Take today's technology.

The word at one time long ago, was something sung, said or writ.
Now it's a whole damn program that, on our computers, fits.
And terms we find defined one thing, back then when my dad was a lad,
mean something totally different these days. For example, 'sick's' no longer 'bad'.

IT used to signify a thing considered the cream of the crop.
Today it refers to newfangled things, like computer, I -pad, X -box.
The changes in context, from then to now, makes English seem like new
and as if we're speaking a different tongue. I'm sure you can think of a few.

But did you know a word meaning 'look', used in my Gran's generation,
is today considered a way of cussing, or describing fornication?
A story straight from my family album depicts what I'm trying to say,
so let me tell you how my Pop had us all in hysterics one day.

We were expecting my youngest sister to come straight home from school.
We were all packed for holiday, and impatience was the rule.
All tired of waiting, in a hurry to go and the festivities begin.,
each, in our turn, kept going outside, in the hope she would be seen.

Pop disappeared from the company, and we figured he'd gone for a squiz.
He was away for a while, and when he returned he reduced us to laughing fits.
He said, in his old-fashioned slang, 'I don't want that you should fret,
but I just went and had a screw up the road, and she's not coming yet.'
.

About This Poem

Style/Type: Structured: Western

Review Request Intensity: I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back

Editing Stage: Editing - rough draft

About the Author

Region, Country: Western Australia, AUS

Favorite Poets: Favourite poets? So many, so varied. I like particular songs, not necessarily the singer... and the same goes for poetry. I can honestly say though, that Alfred Noyes' The Highwayman was what inspired my love of poetry - my mother began reading it to me when I was still a baby, and it became my favourite bedtime story

More from this author

Comments

R

raj

9 years 11 months ago

A good blend of irony and humor about generation gap...building from serious thoughts to laughs...

S

get looked at as if I am a neanerthal by the young people but I reckon that's part of accruing years. I wonder if you realize the present double meaning of coming especially when paired with screwed lol.And I'd never heard screwed used for seen so it must be your Really advanced age (compared to this spring...er....summer....er would you believe late autumn? chicken lol. Good luck in contest......stan

judyanne

Of course I know the double meaning of the two words together..... for me, together's what makes the funny....
As for the word 'screw' - my grandfather was born in the 1890's... long before either you or me... I only have his word for the meaning attributed to it, but I never knew him to lie to me...

Thanks for the luck wish
Love judy
xxx

Sparrow

A very long write to cover a generation gap and very good and very readable, one tiny typo before the end of the month:- it's own ideology--there's no (') in its, as it's not used in that context..
Great write should reach up there I shall as usual go for second place, I hear it is a holiday in the Sahara, just love that sand..I shall have to write about it on my return.
Yours always, Ian xx

judyanne

for the read, comment, and pointing out the typo - fixed....
love judy
xxx
ps - do enjoy your Sahara holiday xxx

Sparrow

I have to wait for the results of the may contest before I can go, I have so many Arrow heads that, the movie makers asked if they could have them for Custer's last stand as they are making a true version lol That will make you laugh a true version of the Sioux Indians,
Take care and stay in Aussie it seems to be a good place to be , though it is the only place I have ever been to a food bank lol,
Yours with Love always, Ian xx

China Blue

I don't think there should be an "s" on fits ?

LOL

judyanne

Thanks, but I'm pretty sure the 's' is needed - 'fits' refers to the 'word' - 'the word fits on the computers'
Glad to see that 'lol' there...
Love judy
xxx

Rula

Rula

9 years 11 months ago

I hate to be the only one to miss the joke here though I also hate to always ask for an explanation.i think I'm not getting the double meaning of the words. hint hint.

judyanne

But understandable that you don't get it, as it is western colloquialism

The word 'screw' in my grandfather's day was slang for 'look'
Today's generation uses it as a swear word meaning fornication (f#*k)
The word 'come' had no connotation as far as I know in my grandfather's generation, but today's consider it a description of completed orgasm.

So my grandfather when he was telling us he had gone and had a look up the road and my sister was nowhere in sight, had innocently intimated that he had been making love to someone 'up the road' - (a neighbour) .... and she hadn't orgasmed as yet

:)
xxx

alidzain

Good one. Best of luck for the contest. Still waiting for more people to join in.

Alid

Esker

Esker

9 years 11 months ago

Age makes me squint bad now..no glasses....maybe the torque
reference in effort....any rate Grand Poem Judy! Without
the urban dictionary or realizing how ancient my love of the
auld is I would be lost in todays world...Its like trying to decipher
the jazz talk of the fifties....Or a twins language...

I like the wit very very much!!

Thank You!