When I get angry I want to kick the door down…
July 7, 2026
When my children were growing up, and learning about themselves and their needs and emotions, I would write them little poems to give creative flavour to those big subjects in life, I was trying to teach them as a parent.
Some thirty years on, I’ve found some of those poems in an old notebook. As I’m about to write more about adult human needs and self awareness, these poems are a quirky take on a deep theme.
We kick off with the emotion of anger. I think I wrote the poem after my daughter’s favourite chicken - was ravaged by a fox, and my daughter ran round the garden screaming and shouting with anger at the calamitous event. I remember we buried the remains of the dead chicken in the garden, with full honours. It was 1997 - just after the death of Lady Diana, so will always be remembered as an historic moment. So here is the poem which I dedicate to my daughter, who I am sure no longer runs around gardens screaming, but who might still get angry when life throws her a few curved balls. Hang on in there my darling girl; this too shall pass.
WHEN I GET ANGRY I WANT TO KICK THE DOOR DOWN….
Pummel my fists into cushions and pillows,
Scream at my Mum and scratch on the wall.
It starts in my toes and ends in my fingers,
Distorts my face inwards and evils my tongue.
When I get angry I want to kick the door down.
Run round the garden all savage and nasty,
Wielding my fists inviting a fight.
It comes over sudden and leaves me bewildered,
I’m angry with anger and its terrible might.
When I get angry I want to kick the door down.
It happens in moments that come unexpected,
When they say I can’t and I say I can.
Sisters that steal your favourite teddy,
Brothers that squeeze tight your fingers and hands.
When I get angry I want to kick the door down.
Grown ups don’t like it this bad old emotion,
Which seems to erupt from a place right inside.
But they do it too on a regular basis,
Get angry with children who then run and hide.
When I get angry I want to kick the door down.
So what do I do with these smouldering feelings
Let it all out or damp down the fire?
Copy the adults or act it out my way?
This emotion called anger is quite a live wire.
When I get angry I want to kick the door down.
But then when I think of what happens later,
The peace and the calm that follows the storm.
It feels so much better when anger is rid of,
It’s part of the process to help you move on.
When I get angry I want to kick the door down.
So kick the door down and damage the paintwork,
Yell, scream and stomp so the neighbours can hear.
It’s all very natural as nature intended,
Anger’s part of us and nothing to fear.
When I get angry I want to kick the door down.