Good On You! Poem by Danny Draper

'Good on you! '
Came the supportive exclamation 
For news of achievement,
Or one up victory over an aggressor
Or for luck, relishing in news of a windfall
 even if minor after a string of bad luck,
Or for a promotion or new job
Or clean bill of health,
Or a sporting victory after alluded success,  
Or a special purchase on sale,  
Or for courage or strength of character,  
Or for higher studies or graduation,
Or happy news of romance or 
A pregnancy sought,
It encompasses shared bliss. 

'Good on ya! '
This is usually uttered with little energy and 
in a reduced tone or volume,  
to emphasise expected defeat 
or disappointment and exasperation 
may be issued in derision as contradiction 
when someone has messed up,
or let you down or caused inconvenience 
or thoughtlessness,
Including our pets and 
failed inanimate objects - previously functioning,  
or strangers discourteous or dangerous in traffic,
Or at the special insanity of war or politicians.

'Good on you! ' 
I have always thought of as a blessing
Never religious, but secular,  
Genuine from the heart not perfunctory,
A hope, a wish,  right tidings,
An affirmation of human spirit and achievement,
A congratulatory blessing connecting you to the bearer
and their shared story of great fortune or news,
Or in the pejorative to the annoying,  
hapless, incorrigible or pathetic as sarcasm and despair
to offer them some improbable future luck.
But most sincerely as a great human blessing,  
to share and bestow pure joy,  
as an event of happiness is told or retold,  
often followed by seemingly skeptical and heightened incredulity
to accentuate the moment,

'Good on you! ' 'That's fantastic! '



Danny Draper 10/7/2012