With reference to....

If any of you are familiar with Henry Reed and in particular his Naming of Parts poem, this is my updated take on it.  I could not resist posting this! ;-)

Obligation
(With reference to ‘Naming of Parts’ by Henry Reed)

Today we have the pairing of socks. Yesterday,
We had oven cleaning. And tomorrow morning,
We shall have the school run. But today,
Today we have the pairing of socks. The leaves,
Autumnal shades, masses that I want to run and kick through,
And today we have the pairing of socks.

This is the shopping list. And this
Is the bank account, which you will see is overdrawn,
An appointment at the bank to plead for an overdraft,
Which in my case I have not got. Picnics,
Laying on tartan rugs, sipping bubbly champagne, nibbling strawberries.
Which in my case I have not got.

This is the ironing pile; it should be done weekly,
With ease you should see the bottom of the basket. Please
Do not allow it to overflow. It can be done effortlessly
If you have determination and willpower. Rain,
Oily rainbow puddles that you stamp and splosh, noisy gutters,
That you do not allow to overflow.

And this, as you can see is the homework. The purpose of this
Is to improve your children, enhance their education.
Reams of paper and yet ‘please use the internet’.
Alien abbreviations – DT, ICT. Orchards,
Scrumping, pockets bulging, tummy aches, racing home.
And this is to progress your children.

They call it development – this stealer of time,
The shopping list, the bank account, the ironing basket,
The homework and the desire for an overdraft,
Which in my case I have not got; and childhood fleetingly recalled,
Sherbet Dips, Refreshers, Pacers and Spangles, no concern of E numbers.
For today we have the pairing of socks.

Comments

  1. When you have sons who wear dark socks ............you know how important this is after the washing has been dried!
    Ah!! the Pairing of Socks!
    Love Marg

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you oh those socks four children and school uniforms, enough said.
    Take care kitty.

    ReplyDelete

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