How Things Change!

I grew up hearing

About place and time

Today, however

So much is out of line

In my late teens

If I quarrelled with Dad

That would be a slap

Quarrelling was bad

I was working then

I had a job

Thinking about it now

Makes my head throb

Sunday school was a must

You dare not ask

Once it was Sunday

That was your task

Sunday morning

And in the evening too

It was Sunday school

For the entire crew

We had home chores

That had to be done

No excuses accepted

From daughter or son

Wares to be washed

House to be swept

Yard fire-bright

Or lashes you’d get

Home by a certain time

School or church

From such instructions

Don’t dare shirk

My favourite spot

Was the front step

Any further than that

And I could be wet

  

With permission sought

The limit was the gap

Any infraction

Could incur a slap

No favouritism

Among the siblings

All had a bit

In what was sharing

If one was out

His share was kept

Another demand

That had to be met

Quarrels were short

Disputes brief

They were not condoned

By either chief

Mother or Father

It did not matter

Cross this line

And there was bother

Training was at home

Learning at school

One was not allowed

To grow up a fool

School was a must

Licks like peas

Two biscuits and milk

Without any cheese

We could not chime in

When adults fret

Another bad decision

We would regret

Respect your elders

Always be polite

Stay away from trouble

Definitely no fights

No bare back

Or whistling at home

Not in this house

You’re not yet grown

Four fast asleep

In one single bed

In many cases

Just front house and shed

Kitchen and toilet

Out in the yard

And if it’s raining

Things could be hard

Plant something

And let it grow

In this way

The less you owe

Games fee a penny

Hard to come by

But it was a must

One dare not defy

With your teachers

Do not mess

Whether at school

Or holiday recess

Manners maketh man

We were often told

Slip up at anytime

And licks you’d hold

In a child’s back

You’d find his ears

Beat the back

And the child will hear

An oft-made remark

From a teacher I knew

But most back then

Held that view

But things changed

Nothing so now

How it got to this stage

I’ll tell you how

The right to do

As everyone pleases

No matter who

That one squeezes

A crime is only if

You don’t get caught

A few in jail

But outside a lot

Different stokes

For different folks

Once known standards

Are now jokes

Roles are reversed

It’s like a curse

In very deep waters

We are immersed

How to get out?

Only God knows

The fact we ignore Him

Causes these woes

It’ll only get worse

Yes this curse

There’ll be no reverse

Till we put Him first

Stewart Russell © February 2019