Unwelcome Call

Rod Butterworth, Rochdale

Too soon, too soon a call will come
To cloud the mind and jar the ears
To spoil this moment in my life
Where everything is perfect here

Too soon, too soon there’ll be an end
To wandering where my mind has chose
To savouring all the joyful things
And of the best, repeating those.

Too soon, too soon will sweet sounds fade
Replaced by alien, troubled noise
Where conflict has me in its grasp
With woes of others in the voice

Too soon, too soon that call will come
Disturbing all that is sublime
From a parent at my bedroom door
‘Get up, get up, have you seen the time?’