Don’t You Dare!

  

 

Don’t you dare

Take me for a fool!

Treating me like I’m nobody

Is not cool.

 

I have value

And I am important

So, mistaking me for a fool,

I totally resent.

 

Don’t you dare

Tempt me young man!

Whenever you address me, boy,

You must say Mam.

 

We are no friends

Or even contemporaries,

Get it right from the beginning!

I am a lady.

 

 

 

Don’t you dare

Go out that door!

I have set you your boundaries

And I’ll say no more.

 

I brought you in

And would take you out!

Understand I am your mother;

Don’t you doubt.

 

Don’t you dare

Leave those shoes there!

The maid you are looking for,

You won’t find here.

 

Take them with you

And the filthy socks too

And try doing some of the chores

You expect me to do.

 

Like making your bed

And sweeping your room,

Your mother gets very tired too;

Here’s the broom.

 

 

 

Don’t you dare

Be talking back to me

Unless you want a mouth of teeth

To be suddenly empty.

 

I am your father

And don’t you forget it,

If you are too big for the belt,

I would use a stick.

 

Don’t you dare

Keep friends with them,

I can see they are up to no good

And will be a problem.

 

 

 

Don’t you dare

Not read this poem,

I have now dared you enough

And must be going.

 

Since you got this far

Just read on to the end

For all that’s left for me to say is,

Thanks, my friend.

 

Stewart Russell © February 14, 2026