Daily missive for Thursday the 23rd of May.

“People go hungry in Africa.”

As if eating every last scrap

On my plate would make a difference.

Perhaps I should

Send a food parcel

There is always enough guilt

To go around

To feel dirty about.

Keep your hands off it

Or you will go blind

Look at me, I wear glasses

Let he who is without sin

Wear boxing gloves to bed

If you don’t know what’s what,

Be celibate.

Keep your nose clean

When a dirty nose

Was the least of your problems

If you were caught

With sticky fingers

Anything less than a toothpaste smile

Plastered over your face

When the vicar

Ran his hands up your thigh

(Who thought short trousers

Was a good idea?)

Looked you in the eye

And whispered

What a good boy

Your parents must be very proud.

Trying to forget

The little things

Is what makes us believe,

When we were kids,

Everything was just fine.

Blaming your parents

Is tiresome

Wearisome

Self-absorbed

When it is easier to forget

The discomfort

Of inappropriate remembrance

Nothing bad happened

To me

Or to you.

Everybody has good intentions

Is a fallback

To stymie the belief

We were subject

To casual abuse

Disguised as consensual

Touch,

An innocent hug

A chaste kiss.

Keep your hands to yourself

But not below

The waistline

Or you will go blind