'Intolerance' by Derek Parkes
Intolerance
From time to time
He tests his lactose intolerance
With a bowl of
Strawberries and cream
Or some buttered French bread
Smothered in Brie
And when the cold sweat starts
And he gets the runs
He blames it on the guilt felt
For disobeying his mother.
He was always her disappointment
She wanted a son with a nut allergy.
Comments
Author: I’ve always been intrigued by dietary intolerance. It never seemed to occur when I was a kid, now it seems some children aren’t complete without some food allergy. The poem is loosely based on a family friend whose children have had allergies to dairy, potatoes, wheatgerm or whatever allergy was fashionable at the time. Strangely, I have developed lactose intolerance over the last few years, and now I can’t eat cream, soft cheese etc., without suffering.
Our readers who ranked the poems:
- this poem manages to convey all the feeling with a great touch of humour which is expertly delivered
- a different approach in this power but the same themes of family effects
- love the humorous twist at the end
- intelligent twist at the end of the poem
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