On Tender Hooks

On Tender Hooks

 

Let me cut to the cheese:

every time you open your mouth,

I'm on tender hooks.

 

You charge at the English language

like a bowl in a china shop.

Please nip it in the butt.

 

On the spurt of the moment,

the words tumble out.

It's time you gave up the goat.

 

Curve your enthusiasm.

Don't give them free range,

the chickens will come home to roast.

 

And now you are in high dungeon.

You think me a damp squid:

on your phrases I should not impose.

 

But the spread like wildflowers

in a doggy-dog world,

and your spear of influence grows.

 

 

Brian Bilston