Laughter, Tears, and Coffee

Empty Nesting Nobody warns of the feelings, The emotions that suddenly surge From the moment your child is born To the day you must leave the Earth, The joy when that tiny baby First arrives in your loving arms And the fear for your little offspring That one day they could come to harm, Oh! The pride that swells in your heart When they begin to stand then walk, And the smile that spreads on your face When suddenly they start to talk! Nobody warns of the anguish When that babe is sick or in pain, Or the deep relief in your chest When that child is well again. That mix of love and fear and pride Continues from year to year Until one day you have to face What you think is your biggest fear - The day they get their licence Officially allowed to drive And take off on that long road trip, You pray they return alive. And so it goes from day to day From the time you first conceive, And then one day they will announce It’s time for them to leave, At first there’s joy and pride for them Independent adults now, They have their jobs, their homes and loves Their lives move on somehow, But no-one warns of what’s to come When the nest is left all bare, When you listen for their laughter And notice they’re no longer there, The parent’s life will cycle Constant ups and downs Joy and pride and fear and tears When the nest becomes outgrown, Those little chubby fingers No longer bringing flowers Or helping hang the baubles On Christmas trees for hours, Gone are the music, noise and mates Gone are the messy rooms Gone is the sharing of your child’s life They always leave too soon, But no-one warns you, all your life You’ll be searching to fill the gap; Where once your children needed you You now have an empty lap, Independence has a price Paid by a tear or two It takes a piece of heart away; But nobody ever warns you. Gem Stones You stood out amongst the dish of gems Malachite, green and shiny, You seemed to call to be chosen, Was that because green was my mother’s colour? Or, unknown to me at the time The stone of Taurus? The sign under which Both my mother and son were born? You attracted the rose quartz to my hand Immediately reminding me Of the Crystal Castle, The Buddha path, Walking the Kora, Meditational prayer wheels Spinning As I circled the Stupa, Feet, healing on the reflexology walk Of cobbles, And mind quieted in the maze. Rooms, sparkling with myriads Of gems and crystals Healing, healing In the hills of Mullumbimby.