The Small Stuff
I worry about you, girl,
so don’t worry about yourself.
Don’t settle for the first
man who says he loves you,
there’ll be others. Any dress
you wear will be wonderful,
that body you have will not
always look like that.
Hug your mum. Spend money
on yourself but save some;
you may not have a pension.
Don’t start smoking, you’ll
only have to stop, don’t use
drink as a prop.
Kiss your dad.
Don’t lie, steal or feel bad
about breaking hearts.
Don’t fester or ruminate.
But do buy a house
for seventeen thousand
in 1988.
Gill Lambert is a poet and teacher from Yorkshire. She has been published in print and online and her pamphlet Uninvited Guests was published last year by Indigo Dreams. A solo collection is forthcoming in 2019.