grpe3

'Twas A Rather Large Family...and all through the house,
Strewn around in a manner that angered my spouse,
Were numerous tokens that life was a-foot,
And that where-e'er one drifted, there it stayed put.

When a human is cozy, what will he first do?
He will sigh with abandon and take off his shoe.
The left one won't always land straight by the right...
More often than not it will slide out of sight.

The young of the species learn this custom fast!
And all topsy-turvy their footwear they cast--
'Till down from the housetops you can hear parents say:..........................................:

"Pick up those shoes! Or we'll throw them away!".

Beneath ev'ry sofa and chair can be seen:
Pumps, sandals and sneakers in red, white or green;
A boot in the corner could drive you insane,
Because ALWAYS the other one's lost--in the rain!

And baby's tears tell you she's looked high and low
For the mate to her slipper; and you'll never know
Just why Junior's roller skates won't stay in pairs...
'Till the missing one trips you down forty-nine stairs.

Throughout years of housework, and frequent frustration,
We talked of our future: A child-free
vacation!

Rather Large Family by Jeanne Adams

When never again would we hear ourselves yell
And shoes would all stay in their closets so well.....

One Night--after shopping--I walked in the door;
My husband had cleaned up the living room floor...
Surprised, I stopped still, as I noticed him stand,
Looking silent and strange,someone's shoe in his hand

The look on his face I shall never forget,
And the words that he spoke are indelible, yet:
"I suppose," he said softly, "that we'll miss these some day,
"When there's noone around to not put them away."

Well, it's several years later, and at last we're alone;
Thechildren are busy with lives of their own.
There are grandchildren now, and we love them dearly;
And live for their phone calls, and visit them--yearly..

Our cottage is neat, nothing much out of place--
Decorated with pictures of each precious face.
Few photographs show you the body complete,
And so we don't see much of small, growing feet

Now many's the time when our hands long to fold
Around little toes and protect them from cold;
And many's the hour when nothing seems right,
And noone cries,"Mommy," out loud in the night.

Now no front door slams, and no voice calls, "It's me!!"
"Can I take the car, Dad? I'll be careful, you'll see..."
And noone says,"Wow, Mom, don't those cookies smell great."
"Can I take some with me?" and, "I won't be late."

We stare at our silence, and yearn for that noise,
And miss all the clutter of our girls and boys.
We slide our shoes under this couch and that chair--
And wish that those others could somehow be there.

Love to all , Grampop and Grammom,
Mom and Dad