A thought unbidden came to me
wishing thus to stay
the time I threw caution to the winds
wanting my own way
I referred to a favourite aunty
simply as Pat
Daddy, unimpressed, stated
he had enough of that
Without temper or ridicule
or a punishable offence spat
he said in his quiet way
"That's Aunty Pat"
I tried again, saying
'Everyone else calls her that'
Daddy simply said
"She is Aunty Pat"
Not to be outdone, I spoke of Jim
Daddy bit his tongue
I carried on a treat but
Daddy still won
he simply looked at me
no flies on him
with less patience, said
"No, that's Uncle Jim"
It was way back in the sixties
respect was shown, then
unlike today's familiarity
not tolerated way back when
Jim is long gone if I return
to the land from whence I came
and see my uncle's widow
it would not be the same
"Och, lass, drop the title,
there's no shame in that
I'll always be your Aunty
just call me Pat."
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