Written after i went to the doctor and was told I had high blood pressure and had to take tablets and give up everything i like. I haven't. I take tablets and cycle 50 miles a week. Everything else is as before..especailly BEER. 

TOO MUCH PRESSURE

This angry young man is still angry, but older

And now Father Time has just pissed on my shoulder.

‘You’ve got to grow up, John - you’re way past that stage

You’ve reached the condition they call ‘middle age’.

It’s time to be quiet, say ‘yes’, watch TV -

High spot of the week, a nice dinner party.

Polite conversation until you doze off

The topics:  house prices, taxation and goff.

(That’s golf, by the way, in case you’re unsure

Not pale folk in graveyards obsessed by The Cure)

Now just look at you in your Seventies gear

With your punk rock and football and microbrew beer

Political poems and loud, angry songs

You still want to change things and right the world’s wrongs?

You stand up and shout and you get in a rage: 

It’s really not right in a man of your age.

On top of all that, and I don’t mean to frighten -

Worst of all for your blood pressure: you support Brighton!

They’re not very good and you don’t want to die

So sit on the couch and watch Chelsea on Sky....

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sure, I’ll take the tablets, and drink a bit less.

If you fancy a game, I might play you at chess.

I hope that I’ll make it till I’m ninety - five.

But one thing’s for sure, Death - you’ll take me alive!