Parents Poem by John A'Hern

Time spent around Mothers, maybe for some,
Father the wise sage offers advice or none,
Secrets shared with which one?

Meal times sometimes a Family fray
Each Parent in turn has their say.
Important for each one around the table
Listen and learn, sometimes a fable
Others join in until told leave.

Eat your food no time for wasting
Lectures waiting about food preparation,

School days' happy wonderful teachers
They join our Parents in giving life's lessons.
Teachers viewed as Parents, if not pestered,

The last day of School arrives, hip hip hooray.
Sadness fills the air as we say our goodbyes,
Some will meet again in their adult lives.
Others never to cross your path again
Heading home, you turn and look back,
Memories that will help keep you on track.

Looking for a job a daily reaction
Lament at your grades now needed for interaction
The jobs you want are out of reach.
One interview ends with positive speech,
Report to the Manager and listen intently,
Shown to your desk, sit down gently.

Reams of paper start to appear
Desk sighs under the weight of so much paper.
Mother asks and listens intently about your new job,
Fathers wander in from time to time
Listens for a while then disappears

New lessons in life are about to take place.
Each week you hand over a sum of money,
Accepted with thank you from financial minded Mother,
Father stays in the background with occasional mutter.

Girlfriend introduced, Mother turns into Detective,
Is she the right girl for you?
Can you afford to get married?
Where are, you going to live?
Each answer followed by yet another query,
Fathers approach explained previously.

Wedding arrangements put into action,
Mother leads the way Fathers follow proudly.
A Mothers job is to mourn loss of Son or Daughter,
Father shakes or holds a hand known forever,

Children of your own brought into the World,
Changes in your parents are easy to observe.
Loving the Grandchildren different to what you remember,
Enjoy these moments that do not last forever.

When one evening while sitting with your own Family,
You both may hear what seems seem like an echo.
Laugh aloud as memories reach out to remind you,
Your Mother or Fathers words have come back to haunt you.