As always, be respectful to other members and of the writer. I found this poem in the Empty Nest anthology, edited by Carol Ann Duffy and I found the concept interesting. Let me know what you think.
Note: I have redacted two words to keep this poem family friendly.
Things My Father Told Me
by Yvonne Reddick
The Latin for 'Do your own homework, you [redacted].'
That, like a bee, a line from Virgil has six feet.
The German for 'Are those sultanas, or do you keep rabbits under
the counter?'
King's College pinkos would sell me to the Russians.
That engineers make useful husbands. The way to check tyre
pressure.
How to prune vines, willows and cypresses.
A method for telling if Gorms are living in your cairns.
Naismith's rule for pace and gradient.
That in his day, you hiked two hundred and sixty-seven miles
on beer and Kendal mint cake and were grateful.
Munro charted the Highlands by night, with a darkened lantern.
Wainwright loved his dogs more than his wives.
That if a Bedouin calls your mother a swine
you reply: 'Stick your head up a dead bear's [redacted].'