Doctor Jenny, your advice is free
to do all the things good for me
and yet, I see your proclivity
is to do only dangerous activity
like ride off a mountain on a bike
cross a fast-flowing river on a hike
ignore the no-swim sign to traverse the lake
enjoy smoking rollups with ready-rubbed flake
at the weekend, you race round the track
carrying heavy loads on your back
you joined the ‘Terries’ to not be alone
to dice with death in the occasional war zone
you eat, drink, and smoke, take drugs to excess
these are the things you acknowledge and confess
but no-one knows what you do out on the moors
or with various partners behind closed doors
you always give me the best advice
but to follow it yourself, makes you think twice
Fraser
August 2023
Note: ‘Terries’ is slang in the UK for Territorial Army or (part-time, Army Reserves)