-Nevvaeh Ashcroft (one of Paul Brookes granddaughters)

The Calm

You want to be with Grandad?

my wife says as granddaughter exits her arms
and nestles in the pillow of my chest,
coddled in my arms
that do not let her fall
from my lap,
sobs, her little heart beats
ratatattat on my chest.
My daughter, her mother says,

She knows where calmness is.

-Paul Brookes

A GRANDMOTHER’S SORROW

Locked up in the attic three empty cribs rot as they rock,
Ruffled cot blankets with frayed edges curled up in sorrow
No innocent babies chewing at monogrammed corners……

A teddy bear, stuffing escaping, slumps down in a corner
Exhausted from waiting, his once golden fur bald with age,
Hoping soft fingers will hold him just once more with love

A Hornby train rests at the station, awaiting assignments,
Freight wagons coupled, the station clock stopped at eleven
Passengers idling on benches immersed in a time -warp…

“Cuckoo, peek-a-boo” shouts the undaunted cuckoo each hour,
“Cuckoo, come on, little ones, time to get up now and play!”
His entreaties are met with an ominous, deafening silence
And the cradles keep rocking and rotting away in despair.

Unfinished knitting lies strewn on the old nursery table,
Pink and blue jumpers, white bootees and cute little hats,
Crafted in faith by a grandmother eager for child-care
But cast aside tear-stained, following years of false hope……..

Her face bears a smile though her heart is weighed down with despair
Inner guilt screams that she should have done more ….. but too late!
The cradles keep rocking and rotting away in their grief.

©️ Margaret Royall

THE EMPTY NEST – a triolet

Oh, how I long for just one day
Of loving time with family!
Alas, they now live far away
Oh, how I long for just one day
A chance to laugh and chat and play
And let our inner child break free
Oh, how I long for just one day
Of loving time with family!

It’s not their fault, their lives are stressed
They’ve little time to think of me
For them I always do my best
It’s not their fault, their lives are stressed
They’ve grown, matured and flown the nest
My challenges they do not see
It’s not their fault, their lives are stressed
They’ve little time to think of me

And yet, I know they love me still
I’ll love them till eternity
Their heartfelt hugs warm up my chill
And yes, I know they love me still
To chat with them is such a thrill
But when they call do they hear ME?
And yes, I know they love me still
I’ll love them till eternity

©️Margaret Royall

Give Birth Every Day

I’ve seen the childless
Mother their friends,
A granddaughter,
Mother her grandma.
There are black mommies
Who mother white children, and vice-versa.

And, sometimes, moms for many reasons
Can’t seem
To mother their own.
It’s true some women’s wombs grow
Babies, but all women’s
Tender-acts grow souls.
-ST

Art work WELCOME HOME by my grand children Sana Fatima Mir Rayyan Sara Fatima and Mir Abdullah

Family Love the Natural Bond

My four grand children aged between 11 and 5, quietly took up paper and color pencils and while we waited for the landing of the plane coming in from Europe via the Middle East they put up their way of showing their love for ‘Maamu’ -(Mama’s brother is known as Maamu’). All the kids were fast asleep when ‘Maamu came home in the early hours, but the “Welcome” poster was lovingly posted on the door of his room. Family love is always the strongest natural bond .

-Anjum Wasim Dar, Rawalpindi City Pakistan 2013