We Never Saw

The Dangers

we never saw the dangers at the local corner shop
Sherbet lemons, treacle toffee and scrumptious lollipops.
Barley sugars, tangy chews, liquorice fantastic –
Now pearly whites come out at night; not DNA, but plastic.

our veg was boiled until quite soft and loaded up with salt
we didn’t know, were unaware – it’s not our blooming fault.
our arteries are clogged, our blood pressure on the ceiling
is it indigestion… this pain that I am feeling?

we never saw the dangers when courting, “going out”
often in all innocence… we ended “up the spout.”
Years of rearing children, our identity we lost
Accused – when having “headaches” – as our passions turned to frost.
But now we see the dangers as our offspring fly the nest
we’ve been there, done that… but never would confess.

we never saw the dangers – one slice was never enough
The cake was so inviting… gone within a puff.
Toast that’s lashed with butter, scones with jam and cream
“Fish and chips,” we utter, with ketchup, is a dream.
Now we face the consequence – all is not too good
we should have seen the dangers in all those Yorkshire puds.

we never saw the dangers when getting our first car
or the reasons that we gave for walking not too far.
with all the channels on TV, in comfort, unaware
As our shape began to change – from slim to rounded pear.
New hips, new knees bring great success
BP machines we now possess
Along with diuretics and good old beta-blockers
The list is endless for many ageing rockers.
As rock and roll and drums cascaded –
It’s now subtitles, or hearing aiders.

we never saw the dangers of swimming in the river
or eating onion gravy with mash and yummy liver.
To take a picnic in the woods, no adult by your side
or wander on the seashore, until it was high tide.
we never saw the dangers, and for that I’m truly grateful –
For if I’d known, I’d have done much more…
and turned out quite disgraceful.