There will be a day
when you can beat me in foot race
and handle spice better than my tongue can
and reach the top of the bookshelf without me
and tie your shoelaces without me
and make a Marmite sandwich without me
and learn how I really take chocolate coins
from the back of your ear at Christmas time
and how your mum and I don’t know what we’re doing
and how the world is heavy
and how the world is heavy
and how the world is heavy
and that is fine
as long as you promise to never stop calling
the tingles in a dead leg “pins and noodles”.

Carl Burkitt 2025