The h2g2 Poem
Created | Updated Jul 23, 2003
There was an interesting article on Radio 4 today about the big increase in Allergies nowadays.. Evidently 1 in 3 people now suffer from them !!
The conclusion of research is that we are simply keeping kids too clean, keeping them away from Dirt.. and that they need more exposure to infections in their everyday lives!! Their immune systems are kept from exposure to dirt and therefore do not build up a healthy
resistance early on. These lead to kids becoming over sensitive to allergies, asthma, Eczema and the likes..
So.. I thought up a poem during lunch that surely resonates with a lot of kids out there!!
Let us play in the Mud!!
We kids are kept cleaner
Than we ever were before
And its causing us ailments
At least.. According to Radio 4!
Our immune systems are growing
Over sensitive, day by day
Due to lack of exposure
To dirt, in our everyday play!
And we now fall for allergies
That we did not before
So we don't need LESS dirt
In fact.. we really need MORE!
So...
Let us eat up that sweet
We carelessly dropped on the floor
And kiss our pet dogs
On the lips just once more!
And eat off that plate
That's been left in our room
From the Party last weekend
And spare us the broom!
And stop telling us off
As we cringe and we Cower
At the thought of immersion
In that bath, or that shower!
And refrain from asking us
To stop picking our nose
Or that scab on our knee
From your climbing rose!
And let us keep frogs
And those things with six legs
And stick insects and leaves
In a jar by our Bbeds!
And let us keep maggots
In a box in the fridge
As bait to go fishing
Down the canal by the bridge!
And lay off the Wet ones
You use to clean round our face
After all.. what's wrong with spit on a hanky?
To remove that food trace!
And.. our socks don't need changing
'til they start to wreak
Nor our undies either
For at least a whole week
And.. please leave our toes
And other crevices qlone
And declare behind our ears
A National Park, 'Germ sanctuary' Zone!
For its official today
We simply need more infections
And needless to say
Less School 'Nit' Nurse Inspections!
Let's have more exposure
To dirt, nasties and grime
For to keep us so clean
Is almost illegal, almost a crime!
And so we must ask
The question of you, if we dare
What sort of parent are you anyhow??
Or.. Do you really.. NOT Care!!
