by Charles  Dale  Gray

The church bells ring loudly
The priest smiling mildly
The crowd throws rice wildly
As they walk through the doors

The honeymoon is soon over
To their new home he drove her
A new yard full of clover
And they walked though the doors

Nine months now near spent
For her husband she sent
To the hospital they went
And they rushed through the doors

The mother, she screamed
The father,  he beamed
The baby,  it seemed
Had come though the doors

Now five children in all
Some short and some tall
Father!    Mother!  They call
As they come through the doors

But there is no reply
And older ones sigh
While the younger ones cry
No one’s there at the doors

Why they’re at work of course
To pay for the porsche
And the pool and the boat and eighteen holes at the course
Each night they come late through the doors


But the couple,  now old
Their clover needs mowed
And their lifestyle has slowed
As they stare at the doors

So spend time with you children
Hold, hug, love. - endear them
Each day teach and build them
Before they leave through your doors