William Poem by Ray Mather

William!
Willie! !
Hey, Will! Stand still!
Why don’t you do as you’re told?
Let me tuck your shirt in,
You’ll catch your death of cold.
Leave the sand in the sandpit
And don’t you bury the cat!
Put the gardening-shears away –
DON’T YOU DARE DO THAT!
Stay where I can see you
And don’t climb any trees.
Get up off the garden;
Look at the state of those knees!
What have you got in your mouth?
Open it, let me see.
Where did you get that chewing-gum?
Give it to me!
Where is your new bike?
What? You left it in the street?
Go and fetch it at once young man
Or that’s your very last treat!
Hmm, I should think you are sorry,
You’re lucky it was still there.
OK, yes, you can clean it,
But just you take good care.
No, you don’t need the hose-pipe,
I said no – PUT IT DOWN!
That wasn’t very funny,
This is not a smile, it’s a frown.
Right, I’m turning the water off!
Joke’s over. I’ve had my fill.
William, DON’T do it again!
Willie! !
Will he?
He will!


(1989)