Today’s poem

Let’s think about those bygone years Which ended with a nine. Were they good days of happiness, Of roses and of wine? 1909, Edwardian times, Of plenitude and fun, The British Empire, Rule Britannia, Setting of the sun. 1919 we are at peace But bear the scars of war, A flu pandemic sweeps the world; It’s killing more and more. ’29 arrives to see The Roaring Twenties out, Financial markets plunge in debt; How did this come about? ’39 and war again, Although we all want peace, But Adolf Hitler must be stopped Before all strivings cease. ’49, austerity’s Been going on for years, Yet, through the lovely summer sun, A glimpse of hope appears. And now we come to ’59 — Good year in every way, Peace and plenty, stress has gone, Have good times come to stay? ’69 the Swinging Sixties Give a grand farewell, Decade’s over, we’re in clover, Curfew tolls its knell? ’79 and in the winter Discontent holds sway, Things have been unsettled lately; Outlook rather grey. ’89 the decade’s ending, Some rich and some are poor, Future feels a bit uncertain, Should we hope for more? ’99, the new millennium, Will there be a bug? All is well, we party on, A universal hug. Twenty 09, a year-long crash, Financial markets fall, Let’s hope for swift recovery Which will be fair for all. Now we’re here, 2019, What can be said of this? Shall we find solutions and Then seal them with a kiss? So much wrong, so little right, Let’s hope we draw a line And have a brighter future when It’s 2029. Jill rundle, oundle, northants.