Nanny State

Her white hair crisp, dishevelled, a wave of rising tension,

The nodding head, wavering hand, unstable to view, but sound,

Take me to the shops, to the doctor’s, to the toilet,

Let go, forget and fall now in – to my nanny state.

The threadbare armchair, her island state, imperial informer,

Take me back, back to the days of rations, bananas, evacuees,

Her mother too, tradition on a plate in the front room, but then

Let go, forget and fall now in – to my nanny state.

It’s closing in, around us all like the rising seas on sand,

Stay put, hold off, count quick the chain of hand to hand.

We could be stricken, one or none, count me in, out, stop!

Let go, forget and fall now in – to my nanny state.

Panic-bitten, gripped in breathless help-me-please, not now,

It’s out there, in here, can’t see, can’t hear, just know,

Blind, feel my way, get out of here, explode, then calm.

Let go, forget and fall now in – to my nanny state.

Silence, streets empty, the vagabond – the sole security.

Chimney stacks climb tall, industrial remnant of yesterday’s world.

Birds call, craw, wink to those that stand back and listen.

Let go, forget and fall now in – to my nanny state.

Now here I stand, hand on hand parted by a windowpane,

Tap, tap, tap, mum! You okay?

Listen, son. We’ve done this, survived the blitz of life and love and loss, so part now,

Let go, forget and fall now in – to my nanny state.