Thought I'd better get this up before Autumn turned to Winter.

Autumn

Autumn leafs are falling
On my balding head.
Like the follicles upon my scalp,
The foliage is dead.
I don’t mind the darker evenings
It’s the coldness that I hate
As I have to wear a bobby hat
Upon my shiny pate.

Autumn leafs are falling
Just like my thinning hair.
Like the bare brown branches,
On my skull there’s nothing there.
My son says, ‘Get that hat off,
You’re not with me today.
I ask, ‘What’s the matter?’
He says, ‘You look gay.’

I offer this to the PC brigade: My son is well aware of the various meanings of gay. He is neither unintelligent nor malicious. To most ten year olds, gay is a catch all term and when used as such, does not relate to sexuality. (Much like ‘sick’ is used to describe anything cool or out of the ordinary.) He once asked me if his godfather liked other men after receiving a Christmas card from him and his partner. I replied that he did. He shrugged his shoulders and got on with what he was doing. I may be completely wrong, but far too much emphasis is put upon the accidental and often unintended offence to others, and not on commonplace respect. Having said all that, I’m trying to discourage him from expressing himself like this.