Double standards
When I sit down to dinner
There are things I mustn’t do.
There’s a list of rules to follow.
Let me give you just a few.
I’m not to gobble quickly,
every mouthful must be chewed.
I can’t talk over others
’cause to interrupt is rude.
My mouth needs to be empty
when I get a chance to talk
My dinner must be tackled
with a proper knife and fork.
And even when I’ve finished
I am forced to sit and wait
till everybody’s eaten
what was put onto their plate.
And that’s just the beginning.
I could rattle off some more…
But for little baby brother
all these rules go out the door!
He’s put into his high chair
with his plastic spoon and plate
and you’d not believe the chaos
that he’s able to create.
No sooner is he seated
than his spoon is knocked away,
the plate has been inverted
and his food has hit the tray.
He grabs the mush with fingers,
that he runs straight through his hair
and he saves a bit for missiles
that he launches from his chair.
He wriggles in his harness
as he giggles, burps and squeals.
He loves to get attention
when we’re sitting down to meals.
He downs his final mouthful
then, in keeping with the trend,
prepares the grand finale…
he explodes from either end.
My brother’s skills are many
and deserve to be admired
but his manners at the table
leave a lot to be desired!
© Jenny Erlanger
Australian Children’s Poetry 
Love this poem and so remember those double standards. They happened to me then I passed them on to my daughter!
Thank you Tricia. I’m sure I passed them on to my children as well.
love it – made me smile 🙂
Thank you, Debra. It warms me to think something I write can bring a smile to someone.
Wonderful!
Thank you for the feedback Michelle
Another terrific poem, Jenny. Well done!
Thank you Bill. I really appreciate the feedback.
You are a very clever poet Jenny. The rhythm was maintained right throughout the poem. Not one rhyming word was forced, all natural within the context of the poem. You took a subject that we’ve all seen before and wrote about it through the eyes of a child, whom no doubt would consider it double standards. When I read your poem I thought I was standing next to a river, it just flowed and flowed and flowed. Congratulations on a superb poem Jenny.
John
Wonderful, Jenny It moves beautifully..and put a smile on my face! jill Carter-Hansen
Thank you Jill. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you John for such a glowing response. I’ve never had my poetry compared with a river before but I’m touched with the analogy.
What a treat! I loved this, Jenny. It beautifully captures the spirit of the child and made me smile throughout.
What a lovely poem Jenny – it reminds me of my grubby little sister, who could get away with anything while I was growing up. Come to think of it, not much has changed.