Have you got ants in yr pants? Mum would say
When I fidgeted in bed.
Once the dentist slapped me in the face
When I wouldn’t keep still
During an extraction.
My mind would wander like Wordsworth
When I was a kid.
You’d forget yr head if it wasn’t screwed on
Was a comment
That followed me like a shadow.
You’ve always got yr head in the clouds,
Barked Brother Angus
From his pulpit
During Ancient History lessons.
Well, it’s better than having it stuck up my arse,
I wanted to say.
And now my grand-daughter has been diagnosed with ADHD.
Is it any wonder?.
John Malone 
Is that dentist story true. My goodness, John. Well, maybe it’s better to know than just be floating around unaware, gaining slaps at every turn. What an alarming series of events.
LikeLike
yes, it’s true. I was ten years old. You don’t forget those things —
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow. Did you bite him?
LikeLike
🙂 no, I didn’t; I was only 10 and he was a big bear of a man — but I was wary of him ever since: I should have told mum
LikeLiked by 2 people
i’ve never been a fan of dentists, due to my own childhood experiences there, and now i have a very kind one, and lucky because i am there twice a year. it is amazing how people can treat children who are different, so cruelly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks, Beth; ironically my eldest daughter is now a dentist; I’ve had a very kind one for years 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
wow, good luck – )
LikeLiked by 1 person
Authority and kids were a dangerous mixture in those days, John. That’s the first time I have heard of a kid being slapped by his dentist though. 😒
LikeLiked by 1 person
it was a long time ago; it worked: I stopped fidgeting but it left its mark
LikeLiked by 1 person
Physically and psychologically! 😒
LikeLike
psychologically certainly: it left me wary of dentists till i became too big to slap 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d like to see them try now. Imagine! 😂
LikeLike
ha; it wouldn’t go down well 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think not! 🙂
LikeLike
You’ve always got yr head in the clouds… Well, it’s better than having it stuck up my arse…
Love this!
LikeLiked by 1 person
it’s good to have a smart retort at the ready, Bob. to whip out of yr holster 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the cheeky retort. I think labelling everything has become more of a fad these days. And there are so many misdiagnoses. The mind is complicated and there’s just too much going on that no one knows anything about. I hope your mind stays well and creative. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
you’re right Terveen; she’s a great kid with a quirky imagination —
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely poem. It’s difficult to be different, specially as a child.
Not to compare scars, but my alcoholic dentist drilled in three perfectly good teeth when I was 10.
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh dear; I suspect there are many dentist tales out there waiting to be told —
LikeLike
Looks like you channelled your energies into your writing, John. Lucky us. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I always relish the opportunity for a little rancor 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You know, I agree with you that if you’re not going to have your head screwed on straight, it’s better to have it up in the clouds than stuck up your ass.
LikeLiked by 1 person
hahah; so true: at least there’s more air up there 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sad ending to the poem. The words march upward like climbing a ladder and then fall off the ladder at the sad ending.
LikeLiked by 1 person
actually I;ve done some research, and it appears there are many benefits in having ADHD; high amongst them : intense and prolonged concentration during creativity
LikeLike
This is a fantastic poem. It’s a bit more ordered than my ADD/ADHD offspring tend to be. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks Chel 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oke
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s no wonder at all, John. There’s just too much going on in this wonderful world for any of us to want to sit still. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
thanks for the wonderful comment, Robert; it’s good to have a new reader 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I just love the way life is full of wonderful stories – thanks for serving them up, John. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people