ROUTINES.

I’ll have to break his gate closing habit
Otherwise he’ll be wandering
The neighbourhood
Looking for any front gardens
To harden
Against stranger danger,
Although maybe that’s my paranoia
Projected upon his employments,
Even as he bellows hello to anyone he meets
And eats up their coos.

Still his gracious nature
Whilst journeying is most welcome,
Especially since his household behaviour
Is becoming more discourteous:
Commanding those who allow him to,
And needing things speedily,
And his rolls,
When told NO,
Are worthy of any gymnastic activity’s gold,
And lividly announced.

And it takes me an age
To get him safely caged up in his bed these days,
As he needs reading to,
And tucking in,
And once I cuddle him goodnight,
And make to escape,
He flings his bedclothes over
And demands Daddy wrap him now,
And after half a dozen more coverings and kisses
My quotidian existence ends again.