STRIDULENT JOYS

I'VE NEVER HAD A FEELING OR SENSED A CALL
TO BE A DO-IT-YOURSELF MAN
OR A FATHER UP TO HIS NECK IN DOMESTIC CHORES.
A HOLE AND A RAWL
PLUG IN A WRONG WALL

IS THE BEST I'VE ACHIEVED,
OR LOVING THE RIGHT WOMAN
AT THE WRONG AGE;
MANY'S THE TIME I GRIEVED
FOR LOVING THE WRONG WOMAN, AGGRIEVED

OR DEEPLY HURT EACH ONE IN TURN,
MOST OF THEM WANTED BABIES
OR OTHER SUCH STRIDULENT JOYS,
I NEVER BELIEVED ANY OF THAT WAS MY CONCERN,
I MAY BE WRONG.  BUT I DID NOT SPURN

OR WITHHOLD LOVE WHERE IT WAS RIGHT.
BUT NOT IF IT HAD MEANT SERVITUDE
OR SIMPLE HARD WORK.
THIS IS WHAT I THINK COMPRISES MY PLIGHT:
I WAS NEVER PREPARED TO PLAY THE PROVERBIAL GOOD KNIGHT

© R.G. Bishop