Tag: Poetry

Children, Life, Poetry

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

Life, Odysseus, Poetry

St Paul’s Wedding

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Wedding greetings
At St Paul’s Cathedral
Down to the crypt
A chapel revealed
Straight backed chairs
A monument to Luytens
Rows of anticipation
Music heightens
Here comes the bride
Hymns and rejoices
I pronounce you man and wife
Sermon endorses
Winning smiles
And out for the photos
On the front steps
Amidst the protesters
They give us a cheer
And take lots of photos
Onto red buses
a trip round the sights
HMS Belfast
Whitehall with horses
Fleet Street and onwards
To Smithfields Market
Speeches and champers
And onto main courses
Time passes nicely
As cake cut in slices
Then tired children’s faces
Mean time for goodbyes
A Great British wedding
Bridesmaids, bows and ties
A memorable day this
As the kids close their eyes.

Friends got married yesterday at St Paul’s despite the anti-capitalism protests and the Cathedral falling out with itself and its flock.

A lovely day made all the lovelier by a big cheer from the protesters as we gathered for photos on the front steps. You could have imagined boos, but there weren’t any. I think they recognised we were ordinary folk, as were they.

Each crowd briefly cheered the other before we headed off for a bus tour and the reception. A special moment on a special day.