For whom the axe falls

For whom the axe falls

- a dedication for the dedicated


This is for the storm-fallen still-forming apples,

The unfulfilled potentials,

The brilliant minds,

The axed with no axe to grind.


This is for the respected yet redundant

Gone-too-sooners,

Nipped by austerity frost 

Before their buds got to bloomers,

Faith-in-the-process, And protest-tuners.


This is for the always-there-when-you-needers,

Flood-emergency-call-leaders,

Cut to the core and the kindness still flows -

Love-bleeders.


This is for the unjustified leavers,

Parting through gritted-teeth

(We see you, not-usual-seethers).


This is for the long-servers, 

The ones who wanted to be retirement-swervers*.

The undeservers.


You deserve so much more

Than this dedication -

Dear colleagues, friends, hard-workers, neighbours,

We'll never get to see the full fruits

Of your labours.


A Wensley

26.03.2025

- Dedicated to those who are ending their Somerset Council careers this week, through no fault of their own

* definition - someone for whom retirement age was just a number, someone who could have worked as long as they'd wished to do so



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