C O N F L I C T

A series of Poems by Mr Damian Robin

2 : BAD, OR, GOOD ENOUGH

FOR JOANNE ROBSON WHO WAS GOING THROUGH BIG

LIFE CHANGES

AND FEELING THE GODS WOULD PITY HER FOR HER

INADEQUATE WAY OF DEALING WITH THEM.

Squashed tomatoes ! onion rings !

porky pies ! banana skins !

no matter what Life’s Service flings,

take the smoothies with the rough —

When you miss the oven’s pings,

feel tuckered out — the souflé’s duff —

when stomach’s turned with tables, bins,

or poor food puffs you full of fluff . . .

when thrown raw deals with rotten veg,

when half-cooked cabbage scalds your shins,

when off the cuff you’re near the edge

of stacked high supermarket tins . . .

go dig down deep where heart begins,

go long — grow strong — you’re good enough!