Ray Mather

Remember Me?
I am the boy who sought friendship;
The boy you turned away.
I the boy who asked you
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Across the world
Two boys are crying,
Both wanting more
And tired of trying.
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I’m a litterbug and I don’t care,
I throw my litter everywhere.
Crisp packets, sweet wrappers, lollipop sticks –
In desks, on the yard – the usual tricks.
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If I had a dog
I’d call him Butch
I’d hug him hard
And love him much
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Hi
Hi
How are you doing?
Fine. Yourself?
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Take a large amount of trust
Blend in a good measure of honesty
Crack a joke or two to taste
Sift out the truth from a mixed bag of gossip and rumour
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‘S cool, man,
It’s the best,
Gotta keep your interest.
Talkin’ is the name of the game
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Ridicule
The fear that rules the school
So damaging and cruel
A devastating tool
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Ten past eight
That warm September night
In an antiseptic room
Your first tentative cry
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Married
Unhappily
Sick of arguing
Tired of pretending
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Who’s there?
Just an eddy of air
That tickles the trees
Only the scuff of a cat
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On and on
Through the snow we run
Puffing and panting
It’s not much fun
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It’s been a rather difficult year
We’ve not always seen eye to eye
He has an unfortunate attitude
His sights are not set too high
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It wasn’t long after my dad was dead
That I heard the first flutter of birds in my head
They began as dark distant shapes in the sky
And I could hardly hear their black crow cry
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No-one’s kissed her,
My big sister;
It’s enough to make her weep.
Dreams of romance,
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All men are different
All men are the same
It’s how you choose to see us,
Remember you’re part of this game.
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There’s summat in t’air, th’ knows,
There’s summat in t’ grass.
Th’ can see in t’ farmer’s face, it shows,
Summat’s come t’ a pretty pass.
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Hurry home, don’t be late!
Don’t stay in the yard or talk at the gate!
Don’t forget the Green Cross Code!
Don’t go to the shops, don’t cross the main road!
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Sometime
During the serious work of this Monday morning
I will think of you last night
And smile
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Wallis with his Walkman
Truckin’ down the street,
Gives no respect
To the people he meet.
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