If the sky was green would the trees feel blue?
If all hearts were sincere, what we say would be true
….
If nature was kinder, there would be fewer storms
If politicians cared more, they would bring about reforms
….
If hate speech was outlawed, there’d be no demagogues
If humans were nicer, we wouldn’t need dogs
….
If the world was perfect, it would be prejudice free
If that is to happen, it’s down to you and me.
Kicking a worn-out ball around the streets
The lucky ones did the same in a park
It was something to do with your mates
Better that having a lark
….
Jumpers or coats for the goal posts
Boots were your ordinary shoes
A ‘strip’ was out of the question
The oldest had the right to ‘choose’
….
The’ game’ itself had no special aura
Except the playing, and those you played with
This was the stuff of friendships
Building bonds, being collaborative
….
Then school taught the art of competition
Sides became teams and you needed to win
The result was what now mattered
The captain became the team kingpin
….
Commercialism entered the equation
The best could win money and fame
These became goals in themselves
The green-eyed god had its claws on the game
….
Fast cars, loose women, high living
Dreams of the working classes
A career for the few with real promise
Aspired to with rose tinted glasses
Racism is treating people as ‘others’
The opposite of acting like brothers
We are not designed to be the same
Whatever we are, we are not to blame
….
Is it part of the human condition
To want to establish our position
In some imaginary pecking order
‘Us’ versus ‘them’ from a historic border
….
It seems we have an inner need
Looking down on some other creed
To feel a bit better about our lot
Rejecting notions of a mixing pot
….
But assimilation is nature’s way
Differences, ultimately, become passé
Though bigotry and injustice may cause delay
All will be free to be who they are, one day
….
Until then, use well the power to vote
Campaign peacefully, equality promote
Practise humanity, value all life
Have empathy, turn your back on strife
I’ve been lucky to have had a wonderful life
Most of it with my lovely wife
She’s helped make true my dearest wishes
And doesn’t complain if I leave the dishes
….
Together we’ve made our own way up
Achieving more than I dreamed as a pup
We’ve travelled to places; seen many sights
Not had too many pointless fights
…
For our children, I pray for much the same
Without them seeking fortune or fame
Looking to themselves to make life good
Loving husband and wife through adulthood
We must get through this, pulling together
No cause to even consider whether
But what of the future, after the storm
What will be the post-covid ‘norm’?
….
When this virus has gone, before another arrives
People will pick up what is left of the lives
So much of what was usual before
Will not be so, for most any more
….
A vaccine would let contacts resume
There isn’t one yet, so let’s not assume
Jobs will have gone, shops and businesses lost
These will only be part of the cost
….
Public health weakened, treatments delayed
Diagnosis of new conditions simply not made
More children and adults with teeth decayed
Increased obesity for many not weighed
….
Councils struggling to make ends meet
Unemployed and homeless out on the street
Promised grants from an empty purse
Not enough to stop matters getting worse
….
Society itself will become more fractured
Less money about, fewer goods manufactured
A bigger gap between ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’
Inequalities increased, demos and boycotts
….
Lost schooling reducing chances for many
A shrunken economy another enemy
We must stay united, support those in need
Act for the common good, then we’ll succeed
Be careful when instilling a sense of duty in your children. In adulthood, this can result in them believing it is their duty to tell you what to do.
The mind is the seat of your will
But keep a hard copy in the study for when relatives need it.
Every family has the potential to be dysfunctional.
All it takes is for one member to be egocentric.
Happiness in life is always relative and, for a lucky few, relatives.
Once there was a pleasant and industrious (by which I mean hard working) tailor who had a beautiful seamstress (female tailor) wife. They lived in a small cottage on the edge of a quaint (nice, in an old fashioned way) village by the side of a rippling mountain stream. Life was very good for the industrious tailor and his beautiful seamstress wife and their eleven contented (happy) children, all of whom were loved dearly.
One day the industrious tailor needed to go to the neighbouring (nearby) village to conclude (finish) some business, which involved supplying a bride and groom with fine outfits for their forthcoming wedding. The industrious tailor and his beautiful seamstress wife had worked together for many days, and sometimes well into the evenings under the light of smelly tallow (animal fat) candles, to complete the order. He loaded the fine outfits onto his a rickety (wobbly) wooden cart then hitched (tied) his faithful old donkey to the rickety wooden cart. Bidding (saying) goodbye to his beautiful seamstress wife and eleven contented children with a kiss and a smile, he set off for the neighbouring village.
Now, the industrious tailor and his beautiful seamstress wife and eleven contented children had always been very jolly, but they were not very worldly (street wise). They thought everyone was as nice and honest as they were. This was about to change.
For, a little way down the road between the two villages, the tailor, sitting on his rickety wooden cart pulled by his faithful old donkey, rounded a bend in the road and passed by the mouth of an ancient (old) cave. As the wheels of the rickety wooden cart clattered (made a noise) on the stones near the mouth of the ancient cave, the industrious tailor and his faithful old donkey heard a mighty growl, which made the hairs on the neck of the industrious tailor and his faithful old donkey stand on edge.
At the mouth of the ancient cave stood a massive (large) mean (not very nice), green, angry ogre. The ogre was angry because the noise of the cart approaching (getting nearer) had woken him up. As for being mean, well that is true for all ogres, all of the time.
The ogre now stood in the middle of the road and, feeling hungry after his long sleep, was about to start eating the faithful old donkey. “Wait!” said the industrious tailor. “If you let us pass safely to go about our business (work), I will bring you something nice to eat from the village when we return.” The ogre thought about this for a while and, taking one last longing (wanting it) look at the faithful old donkey, he said, “Very well, you may pass, but be sure to bring something fresh and tasty so that I don’t have to eat that old stringy (tough to eat) donkey.
At this, the industrious tailor and the faithful old donkey wasted no time in heading (moving) off toward the next village. Once there, he conducted (carried out) his business with the bride and groom, who were delighted (very pleased) with the quality of their new outfits. He then gave some thought to what he could take back with him to give to the ogre. Passing a butcher’s shop he saw a plump (fat) fresh, dead chicken hanging in the window. “Ah, that should do nicely”, he thought. He went in and purchased (bought) the chicken then set off toward home with the chicken on the seat next to him.
Soon enough, the industrious tailor and the faithful old donkey were within sight of the cave and they saw the ogre standing in the middle of the road waiting for them. The ogre sniffed the air as they approached and roared with delight. “I can smell fresh meat, let me have it quickly”, said the ogre. The industrious tailor handed over the dead chicken and, in a flash it was gone down the ogre’s throat.
“Is that all you have brought me?” said the ogre, in a rage (angrily). “That was very tasty but hardly a mouthful. I can see that I am going to have to eat the donkey and then you after all.” It was at this point that the industrious tailor realised that not everyone was nice and honest as he was.
“Wait”, he shouted. “Let us pass once more and I will return (come back) with plenty of fresh meat for you to eat. I have eleven contented children who are nice and plump. I can spare you a couple of those.” Of course, ogres, by nature, are greedy as well as mean. So, this ogre agreed to the deal and let the industrious tailor and the faithful old donkey pass by. As they went on their way the ogre shouted, “They better taste as nice as the last thing you brought for me.”
Shortly, the industrious tailor and faithful old donkey arrived home and told the beautiful seamstress wife all about what had happened. At first, she was terribly upset and scolded (told off) the industrious tailor for coming up with such an awful (bad) idea. “Trust me”, he said, “for I have seen how wicked the ogre is, and I intend (mean to) teach him a lesson.
For the whole of the next week the industrious tailor and his beautiful seamstress wife worked tirelessly to make two very detailed mannequin (life sized model) copies of their two eldest children, out of scraps of cloth. They stuffed these with straw and brussel sprouts soaked in chicken blood and juice. This made the mannequins smell as good as the real dead chicken given to the ogre previously (before). The industrious tailor then set off toward the ogre’s cave.
Once again, as he approached the cave the ogre roared with delight. “I can smell fresh meat, let me have it quickly”, he said. The industrious tailor pushed the two mannequins off the rickety old cart onto the road. Now, ogres have a reasonable sense of smell, but their eyesight is not good on account (because) of their living in dark, damp caves. The ogre leapt hungrily onto the two mannequins and they were gone into his belly in just a few moments.
Gingerly (carefully) the industrious tailor eased the cart backward and started to head for home. Before he had turned the bend in the road, he heard a loud groaning and noises a bit like thunder coming from the cave. He stopped the cart just in time to see the ogre running from the cave pulling up his tattered (old and ripped) trousers and shouting, “I’m not staying here a minute longer. The people here taste awful and give one the most terrible flatulence (wind)”. With that he was gone in a puff of smoke, never to be seen or heard of again.
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