Lamenting Manners

When I was a little girl

My mummy taught me “please”

“Excuse me”, thank you, you’re welcome”

And “bless you” when I sneezed.

Respect your elders, be polite

Open doors for others

Let the grown-ups step ahead

Be kind to all my brothers

She taught me manners maketh me

And courtesy is free

It costs nothing just to be polite

You need it to succeed

A smile can open many doors

And a thank you always works

To calm a situation down

When navigating jerks

But now I wonder where they’ve gone

When I’m walking down the street

Surly looks and battle stares

From most of those I meet

No quarter given on the path

No steps aside to pass

Just heads down, barrelling ahead

That knocks me on my …..

“Thank you” fell away I fear

From our vocabulary

Instead there’s grunts and mobile phones

And slang from “off the telly”

No longer cool to exhibit class

And mind our P’s and Q’s

Now tots in prams to OAP’s

Are ill mannered, crass and crude