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Advice from Father to Son
consisting of a collection of popular idiomatic phrases
Just gird your loins
And grit your teeth,
Above, below,
Beside, beneath.
Staunch the flow,
Don’t quit the race.
Don’t pinch your nose
To spite your face.
Scratch your back
And hold your tongue;
Never old,
Forever young.
Take my hand
Don’t hang your head;
Fly your kite,
Don’t swing the lead.
Grab that chance
To play the game;
Seize the day
And end your shame.
Stap not your vitals,
Sling not your hook,
Dish not the dirt,
Don’t spoil your looks.
Yes, kill the time,
Then make my day.
Play the fool,
But make it pay.
Crash the car,
If you must,
But count the cost.
All ends in dust.
Don’t pull my leg,
Don’t make me sick.
Don’t twist my arm,
No ‘Kiss Me Quick’.
Don’t dig your grave
Or cook the books.
Just take your time
And fill your boots.
Life is short,
Not what it seems,
So split those hairs
And spill those beans.
Here today,
Gone tomorrow.
Good grief, goodbye,
Beg, buy or borrow.
Prick your conscience,
Burst the bubble.
Pop the question –
Don’t ask for trouble.
Don’t tie me up
Don’t tie me down;
Just hold your tongue,
Don’t act the clown.
I hope these help,
Tropes you should heed.
Take them to heart,
Wise words indeed.
For after all
Is said and done
You are my
One and only son.
Roland's Ragbag 