It is instinctive,
No parent can help it,
If cotton wool is in the house,
A parent will find it.
When single we don't see a need for it,
But as soon as that little bundle of joy arrives,
It is added to the must have list.
It has caused many a marriage to self-destruct,
And should only be used as directed,
Preferably by a maiden Aunt,
Or understanding grandparents,
Who were brought up on a farm.
Of course there are dangers to protect children from,
But sooner or later the real world beckons.
Preparing them to live in it requires less cotton Wool,
And more risk management teaching.
But before you throw out all the cotton wool,
Experts agree that it may be,
The only thing to keep them safe,
From Danger in the virtual world.
Barbie and Ken, you can now step aside
For Mattel's bringing new kids to town -
"Creatable World," as the dolls will be called,
In all skin tones from pale to dark brown.
Each doll comes with wigs, both a short and a long
And a wardrobe with skirt, shirt and pants,
So when children are playing, all choices are fine
And no one will be looking askance.
For gender-neutrality now has a place
In the market for fashion and toys
And being inclusive, the experts agree,
Curbs intolerance ere it destroys.
Though researchers found much support for these dolls,
Acceptance remains to be seen.
I myself am confused but I guess they'll be loved
By those children who feel in-between.
MORNING BONES
This bed,
This deep deep lake
Dredge my bones from
The murky depths
Where’s my head?
The diver reaches out
Through dark silted water
Finds something akin
To its former form
Assembles it on the edge
This is the way it would have been
The experts agree and walk away nonchalantly
They’ve seen it again and again
This is nothing new they say
He’s done it before, he’ll probably do it again.
The commissioner of these affairs
Thinks a major decision has to be made
But in the quiet of night
No light or reason
Can stop the unfathomable from occurring
He’s done it before and he’ll do it again,
Shadows playing late into the night and
The shell left in the morning light.