Today is national poetry day and so we thought we’d rhyme
a few words all together for you to read in time.
We aim to transform culture, by getting folk like you
to talk about relationships and things they make us do!
We’re talking of the “s” word
the one that ends in “x”?
The thing we might get up to
but rarely talk of it.
Who was it that you learnt from?
About how that first kiss
might lead to things most pleasurable
but also make babies!
Did someone take you to one side
and gently talk you through
or did you ask your brother
or your sister to help you?
Or did you learn all that you know straight out of Mills and Boone?
Or from a friend who noticed when they saw you in a swoon?
‘cause times have changed since those days and not always for the best
Young people now might learn from porn, with all sorts to digest.
With fake news on their laptops (and Twitter can be toxic)
The fear that what they see is true, can make them quite hypoxic.
So what then is the answer to make their dreams come true?
We have to say, it’s not that hard
The answer?
Yes,
it’s YOU!
If you can talk amongst your friends and with your fam-il-y
about the stuff you struggled with,
those kids will smile with glee.
They say there’s nothing better than knowing that your fears
Have been ex- per-ienced before
It helps us (as do tears.)
If you can share a story of what happened to “ your friend “
and show young folk it’s not a joke
(and this is not THE end)
there’s nothing they are going through
that’s not happ-ened before
by someone else who struggled
was hurt, right to their core.
So please speak a-bout hor-mones
And how they can affect
The way you feel, the way you look
And how if you neglect
To wash inside your armpits
the smell will be quite ripe
so shower more
and find yourself
deod’rant that smells nice!
You might talk about per-i-ods
And also when they stop
This is known as menopause
It’s why your mum looks hot!
There’s physical and mental stuff that
happens through your teens
it’s not just girls it happens to
- there’s shaving and wet dreams!
And pimples, spots and blackheads
Maybe - acne on your back
Your kids could be forgiven
For feeling they’re attacked
By feelings of rejection
and yes,
their confidence
may start to wane and falter
- some feel in-comp-etent.
Whilst others start to swagger
And demand things from their friends
What some would call peer pressure
Some fake honour to defend.
So please talk to young people -
it’s really, very tough
To navigate relation-ships
With puberty and stuff.
And parents who “don’t understand”
Because they just don’t hear
That sometimes expressed anger
is really hidden fear.
So give young folk a better chance
At reaching their potential
By offering to listen well
Cos listening’s essential.
Yes, life is not the same for them
as it was in your youth
you need to hear their hopes and fears
and also to their truth.
Life is never black and white
It’s 50 shades of gray
And as they navigate
Their path
They’ll need help on their way
And helps what you can give them because you also fumbled,
And got told off by Uncle Bo - just because you stumbled -
A hurt you carry to this day
And don’t try to deny it!
There’s loads of stuff you’re carr-y-ing because you kept it quiet!
So start to talk to someone
about what you went through
Don’t be surprised if they relate,
cos they have been there too!
So ask them how they’re doing
And don’t take “fine” as true
Ask them how they really are
Then
share
a part
of
YOU!