Different Slants

Seeing the World from a New Angle

When All of Our Children are Married and Gone…by Robert M. Katzman

Filed under: Love and Romance,Marriage and Family,Philosophy — Bob at 10:17 am on Tuesday, September 25, 2012

(originally written in 1995, it has since been published in my second book, Escaping and Embracing the Cops of Chicago, in 2004)

 

When all of our children are married and gone

Our old home will be ours alone

No more towels and coats and books on the floor

We regain possession of the phone

 

No more lizards, newts, turtles and snakes

No more dogs, parrots and cats

Our private zoo will have slithered away

Of sure, we’ll miss all of that

 

No more science fairs or report cards

No more Sunday rides to somewhere

No more fairy tales to read, or swings to push

Guess we’ll be the only ones there

 

You’ve arrived where we wanted to send you

No more upheavals, crisis or riot

We’re so happy you’re all married and gone

We didn’t know it would be…so quiet

 

We enjoy our run of the house now

But your pictures are all around

At seven, eleven and twenty-one

Sweet faces, but nary a sound

 

We know you’re all grown up and on your own

But your Mom and Dad will always care

If you bruise your knee or bruise your heart

Remember, we’ll always be there

 

So, we sat and talked it over

Though you’d say we weren’t the type

Much as we love our big silent house…

We’d sure like a new nose to wipe

 

Maybe a little bottom to powder

Or a little hand to hold at the zoo

Don’t think of this as pressure at all

But…see what you can do

 

In a classic case of irony, this poem was written by me as a toast for my sister-in-law’s third and last child to be married, seventeen years ago.  But the very next couple to have another child…was us…when a baby was left at our house.  We have since learned, that anything is possible.   I don’t think I have yet recovered from this cosmic coincidence.  I never will.

7 Comments »

Comment by bruce matteson

September 25, 2012 @ 11:00 am

the only reason not to read this is that it is a little pushy when it comes to sarah, but other than that, it is so right on the button for a world of empty nesters that if you don’t read it, I’m gonna think you’re a big cry baby……b.

Comment by Don Larson

September 25, 2012 @ 12:01 pm

Hi Bob,

This is very beautiful! I’m going to send it to my daughter.

Warmest regards,

Don

Comment by Helene

February 13, 2014 @ 11:31 am

Love it.
Then you become a grandparent with custody.
Watch for my Match.com ad for THAT one as a once again still always single parent into retirement.

Comment by Lynda Rosemark

February 13, 2014 @ 12:22 pm

Wonderful….so tender and true…

Comment by Brad Dechter

February 13, 2014 @ 1:41 pm

You got that right!

Comment by Don Larson

February 13, 2014 @ 8:37 pm

Hi Bob,

A timely reminder of the circle of life and our place in it.

I sent to my daughter the last time and she liked it.

Don

Comment by Estee

February 13, 2014 @ 9:39 pm

How beautifully resonant. Thank you.

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