New Year

New Year’s resolution

When a boiler stops working

And the weather’s cold

A gas engineer’s worth his weight

In gold

When a car slows down

And its engine dies

A breakdown mechanic’s a sight

For sore eyes

When someone collapses

With pains in their chest

Emergency staff is

Humanity’s best

If you’re fixing a boiler

Or mending a car

It’s irrelevant to me

What your politics are

If you’re making me well

Looking after my health

I don’t care for your views

On poverty or wealth

When a tile needs replacing

And the roof has a leek

The hero of the hour

Is the builder we seek

When a lock is broken

And the door’s shut tight

The locksmith’s appearance

Is a wondrous sight

When a pipe has burst

And water pours out

A plumber’s a saviour

Of that there’s no doubt

If you’re fixing a roof

Or changing a lock

Or mending a pipe

Or unblocking a block

If you’re out on call

Any time day or night

I don’t care if you vote

For the left or the right

From today, my New Year’s

Resolution will be

To keep my mouth shut

If I don’t agree

With your point of view

Cos when all’s said and done

We all have to interact

Under the sun

And so (with my tongue

Firmly lodged in my cheek)

I pledge to be silent

(At least for a week)

About things political

All thoughts I’ll keep

To myself

As of now

From me

Not a peep