Imagine life as a vast, ever-changing landscape, and the way you navigate it is through the lens of metaphors – colourful expressions and symbols that capture the essence of your experiences. G. K. Chesterton once said, “All slang is a metaphor, and all metaphor is poetry.” This implies that the language we use, especially slang, is not just a casual tool for communication but a poetic expression that shapes our understanding of the world.

Now, let’s consider the different generations, like Boomers and young people, as travelers on this metaphorical journey. Each generation crafts its own set of metaphors, its unique slang, to interpret and communicate their experiences. It’s like they’re writing their own poetry, using words and expressions that resonate with the rhythms of their time.

For Boomers, the poetry of life is woven with the threads of shared history – events like Woodstock, the moon landing, civil rights movements, and technological revolutions. These experiences have shaped the metaphors that Boomers use to understand the world. Phrases like “peace and love,” “flower power,” and “the American dream” are part of the linguistic landscape they’ve cultivated over the years.

On the other hand, young people, the torchbearers of today’s generation, are sculpting their own poetry. Their metaphors are more digital, reflective of a world marked by smartphones, social media, and rapid technological advancements. Expressions like “Netflix and chill,” “FOMO,” and “on fleek” carry the weight of their experiences and aspirations, shaping a different narrative for the world they inhabit.

The challenge arises when these different generations with their unique metaphors and poetic expressions interact. It’s crucial to recognize that each metaphor is a lens through which an individual or a generation sees the world. Just as a 14-year-old might find it hard to decipher the slang and metaphors of a 77-year-old, the reverse is also true. It’s like trying to translate poetry from one language to another – the beauty and nuances can get lost in translation.

Respect becomes the bridge between these generations. Boomers have traveled through decades, accumulating a wealth of experiences and metaphors that define their worldview. Meanwhile, young people are exploring uncharted territories, crafting metaphors that resonate with the contemporary landscape. The Wisdom of age and the vitality of youth can complement each other if there’s an openness to understanding the unique poetry each generation brings to the table.

So, as you define the poetry of your life, acknowledge that the metaphors you choose to live by are deeply personal and shaped by the times in which you live. Embrace the diversity of metaphors, recognizing that the ever-evolving language of life is a collaborative effort, with each generation contributing its own verse to the grand narrative of existence.

Originally Published on https://boomersnotsenior.blogspot.com/

Royce Shook Blogger

I served as a teacher, a teacher on Call, a Department Head, a District Curriculum, Specialist, a Program Coordinator, and a Provincial Curriculum Coordinator over a forty year career. In addition, I was the Department Head for Curriculum and Instruction, as well as a professor both online and in person at the University of Phoenix (Canada) from 2000-2010.

I also worked with Special Needs students. I gave workshops on curriculum development and staff training before I fully retired