A poem

I shall not be bitter today,

I shall not be sad today,

no not today!

I shall not, for what does the world

owe to me ? to me

nothing no nothing at all,

rise and fall, stocks and bonds

autocratic leaders

advice dispensers, false pretences

broken fences,

I shall not despair, no not today

there’s a black dog

at the door and he won’t go away,

I shall not let it in

no, not today, I whistle an ancient air

to keep my demons at bay.

Chris 2025

Image author’s own.