Experts an over used term by over-rated people

EXPERTS

   (An extremely overused and overrated term)

One day I saw this, `Ask the Experts`, section in a magazine,

Solving all your problems, including getting your clothes clean.

Now their advice was offered freely, you can take it if you will,

And all these so called experts possess some kind of skill.

Now me, I figure this word expert is an overused and overrated term,

Whenever I hear it I always shake my head and feel my body squirm.

But these days it seems everyone is an expert in some shape or form,

From fellas fighting fires, to weather men who predict a coming storm.

Experts’ advice isn’t always correct; no matter how resolute they seem,

After all no-one is right all the time; to think so is just a dream.

Amateurs can achieve success even when the obstacles seem massive,

But they rarely skite and carry on; you’ll find most are pretty passive.

Cast your mind back to the Bible and the story of Noah and the Ark,

How he built this giant ship, which caused the experts to remark.

It was to be a livestock carrier with pens above and below the deck,

The experts assembled and scorned; said it was destined to be a wreck.

The animals were gathered and then were loaded two by two,

The line just stretched for ever, a thousand mile was the queue.

And when at last the loading was finished the rain began to fall,

For forty days and forty nights, this was no passing squall.

The Ark floated on the flood until at last the waters did recede,

Then the animals in ones and twos were released to go and breed.

A giant ship built by an amateur that many said would not float,

The chances of success had been extreme, in fact almost remote.

Now to the twentieth century and the pride of the Cunard fleet,

As a luxury ocean going liner the Titanic could not be beat.

She was designed by the world’s finest shipwrights; experts that’s a fact,

She had nearly everything; but there was one key thing that she lacked.

Life boat numbers were sacrificed to enhance the view from the deck,

After all there was no way this beauty could ever become a wreck.

It was 1912 when she sailed from Southampton on her maiden trip,

The passengers were awe struck at her luxury and her workmanship.

Just off the coast of Newfoundland in the dark a giant iceberg loomed,

With not enough lifeboats; twelve hundred human lives were doomed.

Experts designed the Titanic, but now she lies at the bottom of the seas,

They thought she was unsinkable but there were no guarantees.

These experts are everywhere; even commentating the cricket on TV,

Or they may be a failed footy coach who will give their advice for free.

Experts, specialists, connoisseurs, past masters call them what you like,

Whatever the subject there is a critic, an authority, someone to dislike.

Next time you hear someone say he’s an expert as part of their remark,

Close your eyes and count to ten and remember the Titanic and the Ark.

Now a spurt is just a drip under pressure and X is a factor unknown,

So is it any wonder that when I hear the word it chills me to the bone.

                                                                        © Corin Linch 26/2/2012

This is a rewrite of a poem written about 15 years ago to the day 23/2/97.

I was at Wyloo when I tried reciting this poem on the A.B.C. Early Morning programme and the phone dropped out half way through. Mark Bunting told me it was divine intervention, who’s to say he’s not right?