Bedtime

Is it too early to go
To bed before sundown
Without saluting lunar moon
Who might then wear a frown
If ignored and not welcomed in
As eye lids start to drop
Is it too early? Is it? Is it?
Or can I go and flop?

Parenting’s Bitter Pill

They stand in the street bickering

Remonstrating with tetchy brats

Sit incommunicado in the coffee house 

With sleepy children

Nagging, moaning, exhausted

Tired of each other’s company

Yet unable to catch a break

Wishing bedtime would arrive quickly

Desperate for their own space

Yet constrained by duty

Arguing over tomorrow’s schedules

Swimming lesson agendas

And they call this the best time of their life

When the children are young

For how time will fly

And I think …. for their sakes

And maybe mine as well

Thank God!