Skipping Through The 80s: A Poem About Being Different for Kids

Skipping Through The 80s

When I was a boy

I loved skipping with the girls

Not last night

but the night before

twenty four robbers

came knocking at my door

When my friends were boys

they wished I’d skip skipping

Spanish lady

turn around

Spanish lady

touch the ground

The boys were confused

as they spied me

beyond the goal post

scoring giggle after giggle

with girls

they wanted

to marry

After the weekend

boys came into school

with streaked hair

just like mine

in fluorescent odd socks

just like mine

and suddenly revered

my skipping skills

They made me promise

to teach them how to dance

at school discos

She was more like a beauty queen

from a movie scene

Hey everybody take a look at me

I’ve got street credibility

So not last year

but years before

plenty odd boys

came knocking

at my door

for counsel

in my council house

in box room bedrooms

wood-chipped walls

they saw a life

beyond footballs

where love’s a moonwalk

life’s a dance

where boys who skipped

could find romance

Mark Bird ©2022