Manners

Manners

Can you recall when we stood for the Anthem,
When the tune was for ‘God Save the Queen’,
Or when we paused for a funeral cortege,
That was pulled by a black feathered team?

Do you remember we pulled off our headwear,
As the solemn procession passed by,
And we stood in respect, and in silence,
We did that, we never asked why?

It was part of our learning as children,
To have manners and caring for all,
To say please, to say thank you, was normal,
When we were still very small.

We stood up on the bus for a lady,
And we offered the lady our seat,
And even when empty, we didn’t defile,
The upholstery, with our feet.

We held open the door for the others,
Who were following on behind,
And seemingly, they were responsive,
To our attitude of mind.

So what has gone wrong now that others,
Just don’t seem to do it today,
The manners that were instilled upon us,
Have gone, like a snowstorm in May.

The world is the poorer without it,
The niceness just doesn’t seem there,
I wish people would say please and thank you,
And show us that they truly care!

Mick
( Copyright Michael Westwood 2014 )

About the author

Mick Westwood
20699 Up Votes
I am a 71 year old retired coal miner, who spent 30 years working underground. Having time on my hands, and in order to keep my brain exercised, I decided to try to write poetry and put down on paper some of my life experience, and my hopes, dreams and other thoughts. I also do a little gardening, but I am hopeless at housework. Much to my wife's displeasure.

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