Sunday 30 July 2017

Empty Nest


This week my wife and I became 'empty nesters'. The experience prompted this poem;

Empty Nest

And now they've gone.
Where the stairs thundered,
silence.
Where guitars or music blared,
quiet.
The chatter at the table,
gone.
Excited voices through ceilings,
hushed.
The summons from the kitchen
not needed.
The slammed door,
the morning rush,
the toilet flush,
stilled.
I sit and wonder
the cacophony of
twenty one years
gone.

John Carré Buchanan
30 July 2017


If you click on the link below you can listen to me read this poem.

34 comments:

  1. Richard Fleming31 July 2017 at 21:11

    Peace, perfect peace?

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    1. Yes Richard peace, but strange thing, it doesn't feel so perfect ;-)

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  2. No doubt you'll soon receive plenty of phone calls to ease the quietness.

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    1. I guess you're right, better make the most of it!
      Thanks for your comment Julian.

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    1. Yep, I guess I'm getting old now.... Thanks for your comment Martyn.

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  4. First of all I would like to say terrific blog!
    I had a quick question which I'd like to ask if you don't
    mind. I was interested to find out how you center yourself and clear your head before writing.
    I've had a tough time clearing my thoughts in getting my ideas out.
    I do enjoy writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are
    usually lost just trying to figure out how to begin. Any recommendations or hints?
    Cheers!

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    1. Thanks for your comment, I guess it depends on what I'm writing! If it is factual / information based poem, I do some research on the subject and then ideas fall in to place as I drop the facts on to the page. If it is more of an emotional piece I simply write when I'm in the mood and try not to force it. I do have a couple of hundred poems which are unfinished and occasionally I dip in to those and finish one off! I hope this helps.

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  5. Another phase of life for everyone, , less washing, fewer dishes but a tinge of sadness that tends to colour most things, at least for a while. However at home or not we remain their parents and they are always our kids :-) Tx

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    1. I guess in this instance there's a part of me that thinks peace is not such a good thing!

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  7. When our children finally left home, I didn't write a poem about it, but if I had, it would be something like the poignant one you've written.

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  8. That quiet when the kids are gone is something it takes time to adjust to. I remember how lonely I felt when my youngest left.......after a while though I learned to love the silence. I really related to this poem, John.

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    1. Thank you Sherry, I am glad that the poem spoke to you.

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  9. Beautifully expressed. I know the feeling so well.. until one came back again :)

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    1. Hi Marja, You mean they come back....... lol. Thanks for your comment.

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  10. When the last one, leaves the nest, the silence does tend to roar a bit - and the peace can be deafening. But - trust me - not for that long. Smiles.

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    1. Hi Wendy, yes it does roar, but it is also nice to be able to lead your own life again!

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  11. Wow! You even got the toilet flushes in there. So many signs of life gone that the peace is full of yearning. Great!

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  12. Ah yes, peace and quiet can be bliss......and it also take a while to get used to. Hopefully there will be frequent visits home though. Smiles.

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    1. Hi Mary, thanks for your comment, It will be nice to see them on their trips back from Uni.

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  13. I get the feeling this marvelous poem is about a peace yet to be found.

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    1. Hi Martin, thanks for your kind comment, I'm glad you liked the poem. I guess it is also about the fact that peace is not always what it is cracked up to be, sometimes we need a little noise to add spice to life! That said it is pretty good to be able to do what you want when you want too!

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  14. This kind of stillness thunders actually. Silence speaking at its top volume. Sigh.

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    1. Hi Sumana, Thanks for your comment, you are right, the silence can be deafening!

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  15. It's a strange feeling but as everyone has said you will get used to it. Don't let out the rooms yet...they come and go:)

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    1. Hi Rallentanda, thanks for the comment and of course the advice ;-)

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  16. Gone now, but they will be back to visit!

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    1. Hi Bekkie, thanks for your comment... and when they do all that lovely peace.....

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  17. Those are perhaps the most difficult silences to hear at first and so mit must be. Blood is thick. Time and their fully fledged flight will open doors to an appreciation of the silence.

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    1. You are quite right Paul, they are difficult but also very rewarding. Thanks for your comment.

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