3.13 Do I heat or do I eat?
Our grandparents often told us how lucky we are and the struggles they all went through,
That we are all very better off. Sadly, the reality is the opposite of what they thought they knew.
They said we have everything we could possibly need and more, But then the lights go out,
The meter has run out of juice and darkness now consumes a cold room, leaving feelings of doubt.
Now has come the choice, dare I top up the meter or dare I cook a bland and meagre stew?
In our modern society, having to make that awful choice, do I heat or do I eat?
Radiators in every room, but none pumping out any heat, needing to keep warm by other means,
Gas camping stove out, saucepan balanced on the top filled with a simple can of beans.
Shaking and shivering with the cold and feeling the oncoming of a debilitating winter flu,
Feed a cold and starve a fever they say. Sadly, starving is the only option left for me and you.
The government’s promises of support are just more lies and serve as smokescreens.
In our modern society, having to make that awful choice, do I heat or do I eat?
Standing at a checkout and working out if the essentials will be able to go on this transaction,
Watching as the prices skyrocket and explode as the government idles and takes no action.
Maybe there might be some support at one of Britain’s best new takeaways, the ‘food banks’,
That is their own stocks have not been depleted by those forced to converge on all flanks.
The choice has been made for us, no food today for dinner. Inflation now an out of control reaction.
In our modern society, having to make that awful choice, do I heat or do I eat?
Do they not say that your home is your castle? But now a castle that one can no longer afford,
Mortgage rates higher now than the new bankers bonuses that the bigwigs now applaud.
Fear grips every corner of our a great a mighty nation that once stood proud and tall,
Economically ripped to shreds. Barely mustering the strength to stand. Now weak and small.
Now no home heat and from no table to eat, whilst on bended knee do we bow to our lady and lord.
In our modern society, having to make that awful choice, do I heat or do I eat?
We thought we would be choosing cold or hunger. But now we can afford to do neither, both are firmly out of reach.
Weak and cold. Welcome to modern Britain.
***
Jamie Scott Watkinson-Harvey
That we are all very better off. Sadly, the reality is the opposite of what they thought they knew.
They said we have everything we could possibly need and more, But then the lights go out,
The meter has run out of juice and darkness now consumes a cold room, leaving feelings of doubt.
Now has come the choice, dare I top up the meter or dare I cook a bland and meagre stew?
In our modern society, having to make that awful choice, do I heat or do I eat?
Radiators in every room, but none pumping out any heat, needing to keep warm by other means,
Gas camping stove out, saucepan balanced on the top filled with a simple can of beans.
Shaking and shivering with the cold and feeling the oncoming of a debilitating winter flu,
Feed a cold and starve a fever they say. Sadly, starving is the only option left for me and you.
The government’s promises of support are just more lies and serve as smokescreens.
In our modern society, having to make that awful choice, do I heat or do I eat?
Standing at a checkout and working out if the essentials will be able to go on this transaction,
Watching as the prices skyrocket and explode as the government idles and takes no action.
Maybe there might be some support at one of Britain’s best new takeaways, the ‘food banks’,
That is their own stocks have not been depleted by those forced to converge on all flanks.
The choice has been made for us, no food today for dinner. Inflation now an out of control reaction.
In our modern society, having to make that awful choice, do I heat or do I eat?
Do they not say that your home is your castle? But now a castle that one can no longer afford,
Mortgage rates higher now than the new bankers bonuses that the bigwigs now applaud.
Fear grips every corner of our a great a mighty nation that once stood proud and tall,
Economically ripped to shreds. Barely mustering the strength to stand. Now weak and small.
Now no home heat and from no table to eat, whilst on bended knee do we bow to our lady and lord.
In our modern society, having to make that awful choice, do I heat or do I eat?
We thought we would be choosing cold or hunger. But now we can afford to do neither, both are firmly out of reach.
Weak and cold. Welcome to modern Britain.
***
Jamie Scott Watkinson-Harvey