deepundergroundpoetry.com
Buying Fireworks
Hand prints briefly fog the glass,
as the child peers in and points,
ready to tantrum his demands.
It used to be easy
getting what was given.
I can see them on the window sill
wrapped in brown paper,
Standard dark blue,
not to be opened.
I did my best
not to explode.
As the hand prints fade
dad digs deeper,
the boy turns to comics
already thinking of sweets.
When the fifth comes
the event will be organised
trying to get junior
to put his coat on.
I don't blame him
he hasn't collected wood,
fought off raids,
set his hair on fire,
siphoned petrol from a neighbours car
or asked a penny for the guy.
So why, would he care?
as the child peers in and points,
ready to tantrum his demands.
It used to be easy
getting what was given.
I can see them on the window sill
wrapped in brown paper,
Standard dark blue,
not to be opened.
I did my best
not to explode.
As the hand prints fade
dad digs deeper,
the boy turns to comics
already thinking of sweets.
When the fifth comes
the event will be organised
trying to get junior
to put his coat on.
I don't blame him
he hasn't collected wood,
fought off raids,
set his hair on fire,
siphoned petrol from a neighbours car
or asked a penny for the guy.
So why, would he care?
Published 1st Nov 2019
Author's Note
Remember, remember the 5th of November
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
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The author encourages honest critique.
1st Nov 2019 8:52pm
yeah... i think you've placed your finger right on the fontanelle, here, razzer: how much pleasure we experience from any event correlates directly to how invested we are in it. not the kid's fault things have changed, and your lines explicitly show the short attention-span of a child who has no real history (investment) in the event and the demands of so many items screaming for the child's attention. gratification, whilst more instantaneous, is so often less 'gratifying'
i well remember collecting wood and piles of leaves... wood for the fire, leaves to stuff the guy (limbs made from tights that got stuffed then clothed. only did a bit of penny-for-the-guying, but our guys were fab--life-sized and dressed properly, so much so i always felt pangs of insane guilt at putting him on top of the fire and setting it alight. i wanted to save him and could only really relax once he was gone so i didn't have to watch him burning.
never did that stealing petrol thing, though! or set ourselves alight. safety was a big issue in our house :D
i well remember collecting wood and piles of leaves... wood for the fire, leaves to stuff the guy (limbs made from tights that got stuffed then clothed. only did a bit of penny-for-the-guying, but our guys were fab--life-sized and dressed properly, so much so i always felt pangs of insane guilt at putting him on top of the fire and setting it alight. i wanted to save him and could only really relax once he was gone so i didn't have to watch him burning.
never did that stealing petrol thing, though! or set ourselves alight. safety was a big issue in our house :D
1st Nov 2019 11:47pm
Good to see the poem comes across and you see everything. Really appreciate your reads butters, the car manufacturers got wise to the siphoning of petrol and started putting locks on the petrol caps.
Ha Ha there's nothing quite like the smell of singed hair to warm a cold Novembers night.
Much appreciated
Ha Ha there's nothing quite like the smell of singed hair to warm a cold Novembers night.
Much appreciated
1st Nov 2019 9:01pm
Nice insightful write.
"Remember, remember the 5th of November"
... gunpowder, treason and plot.
There's plenty of treason and plot in politics nowadays - just need the gunpowder now :))
Butters' comment above gets it with the notion of 'investment' being proportional to longevity of enjoyment.
"Remember, remember the 5th of November"
... gunpowder, treason and plot.
There's plenty of treason and plot in politics nowadays - just need the gunpowder now :))
Butters' comment above gets it with the notion of 'investment' being proportional to longevity of enjoyment.
1st Nov 2019 11:50pm
Thank you Josh for the feedback, Ha ha yes you can never find a keg when you need one Boris....even the name sounds like an explosion :)
