She sits alone in window chair
And watches children play,
The sun shines on her silver hair
She leans on cover grey.
A weary smile on crinkled face
Remembers times gone by,
Recalls her tree house hiding place
When playmates made her cry.
Then softly hears her Mother call
While seeking hiding child
Her Mother standing straight and tall
With manner calm and mild.
She now remembers handsome boy
Who captured Lizzie’s heart,
And she then married lover coy,
She’d loved him from the start.
The painful sight of children now
Reminds her of her own,
She pauses to reflect on how
Those treasured years had flown.
With memories of her husband still,
He gone for many years,
These daily clear reminders ‘oft
Produce her nightly tears.
The children gone now every one
Are scattered round the globe,
She thinks of families just begun
And feels nostalgia’s probe.
She sees them now infrequently,
Their visits to her room
Responding to her unvoiced plea
With laughter chase her gloom.
But now she turns back with a sigh
Why watch the children play?
What merit are these days gone by?
Another lonely day!
“© Ian Grice 2017 all rights reserved”
ianscyberspace 
Eric is right the extended family gave seniors a way to contribute. It is a pity that it is not more commonplace. Your poem has a great rhythm and succeeds well in conveying the loneliness so many seniors. When I was growing up my Mother made it a point to befriend several lonely seniors who she visited regularly almost as though she were their family. Later, when he retired, my Dad did the same thing with local stroke victims. Perhaps, even though it would be hard, we all ought to adopt a local lonely senior! Thank you for this gentle, yet poignant, reminder of this societal problem
LikeLiked by 2 people
I regularly visit a terminal cancer patient and some of the neighbours in this village. It’s important for the person being visited, but I think it’s equally important for the one doing the visiting too. It develops a compassionate understanding spirit. That is a commodity in short supply in today’s world.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is heart-tugging and true for so many seniors. I’m grateful that my mom had my dad to take care of her, and after she passed, my dad lived with one of my sisters. I feel sad when I think of how many elderly people are alone in the world. Beautiful poem, Ian, though sad…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Inspired by observing my mother in law’s last years.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is so many seniors all over the world.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I visit some on “terminal row” and it’s not a happy place to spend the remaining years of your life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Even though my husband is still alive, I can still relate to missing my children. I know you too can relate to this. Thanks for sharing your stories and forwards.
On Wed, Sep 13, 2017 at 11:00 PM, ianscyberspace wrote:
> ianscyberspace posted: ” She sits alone in window chair And watches > children play, The sun shines on her silver hair She leans on cover grey. A > weary smile on crinkled face Remembers times gone by, Recalls her tree > house hiding place When playmates made her cry. Then softly he” >
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes we rarely see them now we are separated by the Pacific Ocean, but what a treat it is when they do have time off work to come and visit as a family. 🙂
LikeLike
This brought back memories of my mother. You really captured the essence of loneliness.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Barb, she was my inspiration in writing the poem.
LikeLike
It makes me sad to know there are lonely people in the world. This is a nice poem though sweet Ian. Those treasured years do go by quickly and leave us with nothing but memories to be treasured. Hugs
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is sad when you’ve had a great family relationship both with the older and younger generation to suddenly find those relationships broken through natural passing or the children having to chase jobs often in other countries. That’s the times we live in. So because of that it’s important to develop social contacts in the area you live in as socializing is important at any age for a healthy mind and spirit.
LikeLike
This situation is sad and could befall anyone of us. But I wonder whether there are alternatives – health allowing – such as acquiring new pursuits/interests. Second, there is something to be said regarding (what is generally referred to as) the Asian extended family units.
Lovely rhythm to the poem and made it an easy read of a poignant situation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eric sometimes old people are incapacitated to the extent they cant even handle the simplest of external or house bound interests. That is very sad indeed and I’ve watched that happen. Keeping one’s mind active as we age is certainly the preferred way to go. I think you for example would be creative right up to the last minute. Yes I agree the extended family situation promotes better health outcomes for the aged but these days with smaller affordable housing and having to go to the ends of the earth to find employment makes that difficult.
LikeLiked by 1 person