The Things We Need Poem by Denys E. W. Jones

Clean, fresh air to breathe,
Something in which to believe,
Collar and tie for the office,
Bucket and spade for the beach.

Water when we are thirsty,
Fire when we are cold,
Money to burn in our reckless youth,
Bedpan and pills when we’re old.

Love, or we too soon wither,
Hate, the flipside of the coin,
Solitude when we’re together,
Company when we’re alone.

Cats and canaries to pet,
Hopes to fulfill or forget,
Shades when the sun is glaring,
Brolly when pouring wet.

Freedom for tongue and mind,
Flowers and bottles of wine,
Scalpels, injections and lotions,
To undo the mischief of Time.

Paper and pencil to write with,
Slim volumes and fat tomes to read,
Cudgels and daggers to fight with,
These are the things that we need.

29/11/06