Be gentle

Be gentle

There are too many

Sharks in sharp suits

Bottom feeders

With an eye for the wounded

So much of life is war

When what is needed

Is an armistice

On grievance

A game of football

In ‘no man’s land’

A rational resolution

To a dispute

Without recourse to

Violence

Or the fear

Of retribution

My dad is bigger

Than your dad

Remember when he

Came riding in

To save the day

No me neither

Before a threat

Was realised

Life was so easy

When the simplest solution

Was the loudest

The biggest

The hardest

Or the meanest

Spirits were there to be crushed

But hope was never dampened

Even when

Children were seen and not heard

It is a cut throat world

A clean shave

Short of a haircut

When an expensive suit

Is moulded around

A bully

Power me down

My batteries

Are not up to the charge

Show me kindness

It is free

At the point of delivery

I will buy my own lunch

It is not charity

To expect clarity

When the road ahead

Is clouded in doubt

I will pay my way

Just do not take me

To the cleaners

When I can

Hang my own clothes

Out to dry.