Writing Prompt: Write a poem about something (you wanted to hold on to) that ended too soon!
Vanishing Purpose
Children move on,
parents don’t; not as quickly.
Some wait for an empty nest;
others dread it;
making the nest
more comfortable
so they don’t leave!
Some,
their hearts break
like a double-egg yolk
cracked on the side of the bowl
much like the empty-nested parent’s heart-
like my heart-
who did not think
this day would come so fast.
Brown eggs, white eggs;
Brown parents, white parents;
color doesn’t matter.
When it’s over, it’s over;
they leave.
No more 2 a.m. feeding;
shaking the bottle to mix stubborn formula.
No more holding them,
as they drink the bottle,
looking lovingly in your eyes
Purpose slowly vanishing!
No more binky!;
It’s no longer needed.
No more excitement over learning to walk;
they’re now running.
No more tantrums
as they fall asleep in my arms fighting sleep.
No more footed pajamas;
they’re wearing big boy pajamas now.
No more forehead kisses;
they don’t want them.
No more cleaning their rooms.
No more karate classes and belts,
or all day football tournaments.
No more 6 a.m. rousings,
as they wake and roll out of bed.
No more asking for 5 more minutes
as they shut off their alarm for the fifty-leventh time.
No more bus stop drop offs.
No more elementary,
middle school,
or high school graduations!
No more purpose!
Special 2 Me 