These Four Walls

Decades have clocked past since we were capped by roof As you take your children down the history without and in us We fondly and times somberly reminisce with you When it was just dad, mum and three carefree children Now we hold faces of ten - Mature features of the kids parented within us How we miss the innocent shrieks of month-olds The laughter and playful nature your siblings and you shared Phases changed, wrinkles formed, and one by one, bid bye The hollow you guys left still is ocean deep Your occasional visits became occasional fills You talk of mum’s discipline that we know too well; That she would become this soft someday, we too couldn't have guessed How your eyes brighten as you elaborate her nightly stitch work! To testify we can – her now cracking joints are fruits of care, hard at work then You fondly recall father’s silent ways of achievement, How he taught not through words but by action We sigh with you to shake off miss’s hard grasp Feeling your deep regret that not you all, could be as him The green, brown, gray, yellow hues as well, we picture Yes, you did drag your feet to the fields before sun said hi Yet beams you all were when “healthy colors” repaid your hard toil on the soil How sad those glorious seasons come by rarely Memory of the first grandchild is a treasure The dozens more, we call them blessings Great grandchildren, how they rejuvenate us with their plays! Your older sibling would have loved these moments History’s trickle has to come to a halt, as responsibilities call With the farewells, loneliness is ushered, but hey…that’s just life We remain standing, gazing with you at the fading figures of your loved ones Glad for your presence and hopefully awaiting another visit To go down this inexhaustible memory lane ©GraceM Composition Contest:4 Walls (by CT)