Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees

I’ve come home again with tears in my clothes
a rip when I fell, banged my head, knees and nose.
There’s a hole in my sweatshirt, a split in my jeans
the largest gap you’ve ever seen.

I keep ruining my clothes with gooey gubbins
that won’t come off with endless scrubbing
a red gloopy stain that soap just won’t fix
from saucy noodles on slidy chop sticks

and I always spill paint and drip inky splotches
leaving stinky, black and dirty blotches.
Dad says I’m also growing too fast ¬–
why do none of my clothes seem to last?

He says, ‘Money doesn’t grow on trees!’
Take better care of your clothing….PLEASE!’
But what if trees had a good crop of garments
enough for me and all my requirements?

T-shirts and leggings and thin summer shorts
vests and jackets and kit for all sports
jumpers and sweatshirts and wet weather gear
nothing too flashy, nothing too dear.

‘Dad, what we need is a clothing tree
To help you out with free outfits for me!’
So we planted one out and it grew and it grew
But now we need another –

there’s a hole in my shoe!