I put away the toys.

Cleaned the room and

Cursed and dammed the mess you made.

Grumbled about the many stubborn stains.

As I washed and ironed a million clothes.

Then I fell on the couch-

A tired heap of ageing blood and bone.

And looked around in sweet despair.

This home is....

-too quiet now!

-too clean !

-too orderly!

Come back!

I'll gladly trade this

for the joyful laughter of your innocence.

For the screams and the tears

Of the blurry lines between your real

and imagined fears.

I miss you tight embrace.

And the melody of, " I love you Mummy!!"

And Always,

Always at the end of a weary day,

A moist kiss, wrapped in the swirls

Of Johnson's baby wash,

Wipes away the wrinkles of my time.