Oranges and Lemsip

There's a tradition in English poesy that marries financial misfortune with the chiming of church bells. You may recall from your childhood the nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons, and of course that powerful indictment of 20th Century industrial capitalism, Gwalia Deserta by the Welsh poet Idris Davies (which features verses of church bells lamenting the desolation of Welsh mining in the interwar years, and was set to music by Pete Seeger as the folk staple The Sad Bells of Rhymney recorded by Seeger, The Byrds and others.)

So when I was looking to reflect on a recent rise and fall in my own financial circumstances, I had a great tradition to draw on…

“Let’s pay you in dividends!”

Said the bells of St Ninian’s.

“What does that mean then?”

Asked the bells of St Stephen’s.

“Lower National Insurance contributions!”

Explained the bells of St Lucian’s.

“Then we’ll all be rich!”

Sang the bells in Norwich.

“Actually, there’s a hole in the company finances…”

Rang the alarmed bells of St Francis.

“Redundancy”

Chimed the bells of Costessey.

“Here’s your five farthings.”

Said the bells of St Martin’s.

“But, I’ve worked here for 10 years plus?”

Argued the Bells of St Antoninus.

“Yeah, you lost some entitlements when you accepted payment in dividends…”

Reminded the bells of St Ninian’s.

Here come 17 new job email notifications to light you to bed.

Here comes a recruiter to hunt for your head.

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Photo by John H Rhodes on Unsplash