My children? Ah.. they are doing well abroad!

I dragged my legs towards "home"
sitting ghostly in the semi darkness
I longed to hear "thaththee coming!"
Instead the howling of a dog greeted me
I pushed the creaky door open
The dozing cat ran away mewing loudly
I walked along the silent corridor
And peeped instinctively through the door
Of my lovely giggling bubbling daughter
The blank walls drew a deep sigh from me
Then I turned into my dear son’s room
Which used to be boisterous and messy
The black screen of a computer moniter
Stared at me questioningly, the owner gone
I embraced my wife in the back room sadly
And we wept together bitterly while
The dinner was waiting for us coldly on the table
I wish my children were small and joyful
And never left us to pine away our lives
With bitter – sweet memories for ever.

A poem by R.C. Fernando