Umbrella Poem

An umbrella is a manifesto
your declaration that No;
you will no longer suffer the
injustice of raindrops
and the cold pathos of wet clothing
will no longer be yours
you will stand proud and
untouched
beneath your standard
bobbing gracefully in rhythm
with your march.

An umbrella is a laugh
it shines brightly coloured
among the grey and the bleak
and the dirt and the wet cement
a gleam of wit, it
stands stark against
rainy day peevishness and
dampened goodwill
and makes of the whole thing
a small, amusing joke

An umbrella is a father
you peer out from under
its encircling protection
at the world
pass it by, untouched
by its proximity
glance up at the sky
and the piling plotting clouds
smugly, for you are
safe

An umbrella is a lost cause.
Against the screeching, marauding wind
you stand, umbrella in hand
and join battle
but you are not proof against its
sly upper cut
and are rendered impotent
struggling with your upturned, useless
weapon.