Rituals Poem by Mark Heathcote

We're all exposed to rituals minus our consent or concern
I'm not talking witches covens or dancing naked around
A fire or devil worshipers wanting we should give up and die
And I am not talking about self-flagellation or scarification.
I am talking about small things the little rituals we make.
When you want to save the world today; what do you do?
Do you separate your waste, give up driving diesel too.
There are rituals to even tying a shoe; what do you do?
Chewing gum is it incidental how you fold the silver paper
Brush your teeth; get paid monthly, pay your bills
Work ever harder getting nowhere only older
We're all exposed to rituals don't forget to iron your clothes
Walk the dog, flea-powder the cat, and whisper a prayer
To-never-getting an answer; take that once a year break
By the ocean, hoping, hoping the sun will always shine
Rituals, rituals, rituals-don't-forget that bucket and spade
The kite string tangled, dads white burnt feet in sandals
Come Christmas kissing mother under the Mistletoe
Arguing about the flavour of a pistachio ice cream
Till all, you want to do as a child, is-scream!
Rituals, rituals, rituals-don't-they, make you blue
Morning rituals like going to school like a lonely cloud
Like-shouting when you're older the kids are too loud.