Out on the town with my girl

You tease a friendly smile
From the stranger behind on the bus
In every store that we visit
The shopkeepers can’t make enough fuss
You reach out and grip ladies’ fingers
Grown men coo in cashpoint queues
Even hardened young hoodies
Stop posing and exchange winks with you
People grin and wave
From inside their gridlocked cars
Twentysomethings raise their glasses
Outside of crowded bars
At the top of the platform steps
A tramp offers to help us along
We lift your pram down the stairs
Then he’s off with a chirpy ‘so long’
You light up the world around you
Make it show its much softer side
And I’m privileged to be there with you
My chest swelling with fatherly pride