Raindrops on Roses

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(Best sung to the ‘Raindrops on Roses’
Sound of Music melody)


Poised, sharp and twinkling,
So adult when speaking.
Bright as a button,
Self-confidence building.
Doing her homework
And passing her tests;
Flying at her new school
And giving her best.

List making, potions
And outraged-faced poses.
Climbing and hanging
And landing on noses.
Chess, stamps and boredom
And driving up walls;
These are a few of her favourite things.

When the pen drops,
When the door slams,
When her tea goes cold,
I simply remember she’s seven years old
And then I can’t be, but awed.

Toilet Seat

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Three fourths male household
My childhood norm
Toilet seat up
Mother annoyed
‘Bend your knees’
She would call
Went to university
Dating game
Feminism and courtesy
Toilet seat down
Wilder days of laddishness
Toilet seat back up again
Calmer days of going steady
Toilet seat firmly down
Daughter first born
May as well sit down myself
And have a rest
Son appears
Four years pass
And standing proud
He’s peeing like his old man
And a forgotten sight…
The toilet seat back up again
Not by my own hand
Trademark splatters
Not my fault
Mum will be irritated
Just like mine before her
Triggers a smile
And childhood memories
Pungent stuff

Our Changing Seasons

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The changing seasons
of my children’s lives
Throwing and catching,
she improves before my eyes
Then rubbing together gingerbread,
her application a surprise
He seeks out phonics
and connects them into words
Three letters, four letters,
decoding as he learns.
Today is bright and colder
with leaves starting to turn
Our seasons steadily passing
It gets easier all the time
Their tiny years are over,
But, one day, I will yearn.