Prunus avium

Life Without The Manual
I analysed my life, the other day.
They said it came cheap with nothing to pay.

I think it was second hand because it came with no manual.
They said "Just carry on without it, steady and gradual".

It had no guides to follow, to be a dentist, doctor or docker.
Or even for that matter, the knack to keep ones head above water.

Who will map my course through the minefield of life.
Avoiding the indifferent, bad and personal strife.

Uncharted is the fate that is there to be used.
Its the deal you were given, you can't be excused.

Enlightenment on the web was disappointing and disagreeable.
As were all the open ended searches made on Google

Fit the mould and stand shoulder with all of mankind
Instead of being buffeted like a flower head in the wind.

Schooled through a classroom of numerals and alphabet soup.
By manic masters that made you jump through the hoop.

Or how to love and pay respect.
To tweet and blog the Highway Tech.

To cower or fight for an important purpose.
Throughout all four corners of the compass.

Feed the cat and walk the dog.
To mind your manners unlike a hog.

Evenings on street corners full of hormonal puberty.
An acne legion discuss the subjects of music and liberty.

Grunge bands, rock music and hip-hop hero.
While their soul expectancy is pointing to zero.

Take an oath to get on, while packing your bags,
To write features for the columns of 'Boys Own' mags.

Gorge on a diet of wedges and southern fried chicken.
While putting away thoughts of those famine might weaken.

Bring new life into a world of shame.
To face a future of crime and blame.

To reach for fame and notoriety in front of the lens.
While frolic and playing the plains of societies 'fens'.

Then mingle amongst the young and old.
An exchange new ideas through stories told.

To skip and jump around the post.
Then nurse and care those you love the most.

To steer the straight and narrow and avoid the bend.
And take life's medicines to the bitter end.

To aspire and dream of the life at the top.
Or dwell in the gutter as one big flop.

At home in the idyll garden with your hybrid rose.
Or hell in a concrete jungle, with secret police and rubber hose.

To pamper those with a life saving gesture.
And hit the front page with your prominent feature.

To gain compassion from your fellow man.
For living along with the 'also-ran'.

Through messed up ways, like an editors typo.
Of highs and lows from the opium hypo.

From the 'Lah-de-dahs', to social wreck.
A World embraces you with a social peck.

On a path to a summit and the peak of old age.
Hopefully skirting the jobs of minimal wage.

I discovered quite quickly, there are no guides or silver spoon.
Just live the life you were given as it will be gone quite soon.

In the end its a simple life with no instruction.
Regulated by the rank and file of an institution.