Tom and Mabel

Just Tom and Mabel in the village, No honorific ever known, Too far down the pecking order for Such respect to be shown. Like so many in that village My Dad and Mam worked on A still almost feudal system Wage slavery not yet gone. Oh, they were respected, Looked up to in their way For their ability to work An honest long hard day, But, bottom of the pecking order, Kept firmly in their place Part of the lower orders Workers of the Human Race. Like any good parents did They made sacrifices for their child Which I realise now I repaid By being unruly, rebellious, wild. Somehow I survived In spite of my attitude And I really think i did Try to show them my gratitude. Tried to stand tall for my beliefs Be an honest and reliable man And, just like my Mam and Dad be As true and honest as a body can Still way down the pecking order In my allocated style and place I bowed my head to no man, looked them squarely in the face. There were times of hardship Time when it was rough But like my Mam and Dad I coped, Survived when the going got tough It was that example they set me That helped me to be able, Still proud many years later to Be the son of Tom and Mabel.