Let's Pretend

I am re-inventing your childhood Let's pretend your bedroom Was specially painted blue With mobiles, night-light, music Fit for a prince. Let's pretend You only cried if you fell And never from fear or pain, distress or grief. That everyday adventures were always nice Let's pretend you never held a gun Were blooded before you were ten With your first kill That you never cowered from the belt Or ran away, stayed up till the wee tired hours Child-gambler, playing daddy for pennies Eight turned twenty one Let's pretend that mummy Wasn't a sponge of tears That leaked out messy and useless, Not fit to raise a flea I am reinventing your childhood. Let's pretend that mummy Didn't put you in care Believing the lie that the Nanny State knows best Intelligent, musical, quick, A natural leader and athlete, the teachers wrote But all those early apples Withered on the bough Counted for nought I am reinventing your childhood Indulge me kind ghost And all those other ghosts Who walk that bitter track On torn, bleeding feet The Past is gone away, beyond pretending Ah, could I take it back!