Simon Must Be in Bed by Eight by Simon Tindale

Arts Richmond

Online - 26 September 2020

If I am a big boy now

then will the grown-ups tell me how

come they’re allowed to stay up late

but I must be in bed by eight

we’re having such a lovely time

so why can’t I stay up till nine?

I hate I hate I hate I hate

that I must be in bed by eight.

Maybe I will tell my Dad

about the phone call Mummy had

and maybe I will tell my Mum

that I saw Dad pinch Auntie’s bum

at my new school I won’t behave

in hospital I won’t be brave

I hate I hate I hate I hate

that I must be in bed by eight.

There’s a sadness in this place.

I hate the fact that on most days

I can’t remember my own name

then suddenly I’m young again.

I hate being ninety-three years old.

I hate this sodding nursing home.

I hate them checking up on me.

I hate it that I smell of pee.

I hate I hate I hate I hate

that I must be in bed by eight.

from ABOUT TIME, the 2019 anthology of shortlisted entries from The Roger McGough Poetry Prize. Copies of this Anthology can be purchased for £5 including P&P from Arts Richmond.