How dare you tell me what to do
Can’t you see I am full grown
You think you know what’s best for me
I can manage on my own
You can’t be right all the time
You’ve ruled the roost too long
Why should I follow your advice
I’m not dancing to that song
I will do what I want to do
And make up my own mind
I don’t need your help these days
Hush please, if you’d be so kind
If I’m in a bind, I’ll sort it out
By giving it plenty of thought
Then, if and when, I’ve tried but failed
You’ll be my last resort.
When sun blessed days are but memories
Winter’s grip tight round windows and walls
As soil hardens and nature rests soundlessly
Listen and heed as the fireside calls
Then warming, recall those happier times
What you did and what difference you’ve made
Think then of all those less fortunate
Living lives never out of the shade.
Fresh talc and terry-towelling smell
Rhymes and stories longing to tell
Spotting that very first baby tooth
Eyes searching mine for some loving truth
Lighting one candle on the birthday cake
Leisurely walks around the park lake
Holding hands and showing I care
Talking of others, no longer here
Laughing at furrows on my ageing brow
Answering questions about why and how
Forbidden sweets shared when none can see
Just coming round for Sunday tea
Don’t ask which of these pleasures I miss the most
For none are matters about which I can boast
And, knowing these things might never be
I must miss them all, but secretly.
Not now, see, I’m in such a rush
Not now, please, again, do shush
Not now, you’ll simply have to wait
Not now, I’m running rather late
Another time, when I’m not so busy
Another time, my head is dizzy
Another time, we’ll be able to play
Another time, I told you yesterday.
How to master a cat…?
You can’t and that’s that!
Of the myriad species with us here
Mankind, alone, might be aware
Marking time; possessing empathy
Self-consciousness and a will that’s free
Then why the folly of deadly strife
With religion oft cited to take a life
Which god asks people to kill the same
To glorify its works or defend its name
A divine being would not have need
To see its creations do bloody deed
If such actions must take place
They’re surely not done with any god’s grace
Greed and power are the reasons why
Tribe against creed vie and die
A deity cares neither for war nor peace
As paltry lifeforms squander their lease
A god doesn’t act as a grand puppeteer
Pulling strings to spread carnage and fear
A monotheist would only be benign
Free, not envious, of another’s design
So when in a god’s name we take its greatest gift
Perverting its cause to some meaningless rift
Know true to yourself that you are to blame
Or answer before it, and hang your head in shame.
Through holocaust and atom bomb yield
Cruelty and war, human nature revealed
Barbaric behaviour must surely cease
And people strive to live in peace
If mortal man holds life too cheap
By his own hand sad fate he’ll reap
Squandering life and every resource
No way found to a better course
The sun cares not for the human plight
It marks each day with its warming light
To our demise all assistance we lend
Our fragile existence we hasten to end..
Only fools gravely utter
in their final croaking stutter
to those around the hushed deathbed
words and phrases best left unsaid.
Grieve as you must for those loved and lost
Broken relationships will all have a cost
Each day may heal by some small degree
But time cannot mend what wasn’t to be.
When did she lose that sunny smile
It’s not been there for quite a while
It was there each and every day
Bright and cheerful at work and play
It used to make my own heart soar
The luckiest chap I knew for sure
I could forget my former life
With such a person as my wife
My love has grown with every dawn
A giant oak from a small acorn
I make a point to tell her so
It is important for her to know
Her faults are small and fewer than mine
But need pointing out, if she is to be fine
By making a few imperceptible tweaks
She could enhance those rosy cheeks
In that way she would then be perfect
But telling her so has the wrong effect
She rails against each gentle hint
With dulling eyes that have no glint
Oh why can she not take some note
Instead of becoming more remote
And smile for me as she did before
Alas, it makes my poor heart so sore.
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