The Almighty Thresher

In the almighty social thresher
propelled by lofty expectations,
folks respond differently to pressure
in pursuit of their aspirations.

Propelled by lofty expectations,
pushy parents say, “I’m watching you!”
In pursuit of high aspirations,
they’re getting their kids to stay on cue.

Pushy parents say, “I’m watching you!”
Passive parents say, “It don’t matter.”
They are letting their kids stand on queue
to get the dregs left on the platter.

Passive parents say, “It don’t matter.
Our kids will have to find their own way”
to get the dregs left on the platter
of life’s extraordinary buffet.

Our kids will have to find their own way.
Each responds differently to pressure
for life’s extraordinary buffet
in the almighty social thresher.

$ $ $ $ $

Author’s note: I’ve wanted to try this form ever since reading “Welcome to Dallas!” by Joyce Carol Oates. For those not familiar with the Pantoum form of poetry, a description and several other examples can be found at the following link:
http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/pantoum.html
Their version, with its rhyming requirement, is a bit more rigorous than some other sources, which require only the interlocking pattern of repetition.

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