Right – this is the first time I’ve EVER written anything like this and posted it online for all to see, so I’m a little bit nervous, so PLEASE be nice. Yes I know it doesn’t scan all that well in places, but I could spend HOURS getting wrapped up in it.

The Empty Room

Our house has three bedrooms, but one is mostly still,
Toys adorn the surfaces, and the air has a chill.
It stands there mainly stuck in time, waiting to come alive,
But for now, it’s quiet and still, it doesn’t really thrive.

The room stands untouched, exactly as you left it,
Your slippers tucked away and your teddies they just sit.
I find myself going in there, just to take a look,
Your ‘bedtime table’ has the DS on, a lamp and your book.

It breaks my heart to see, a room filled with so much fun,
Standing silent with no soul, the magic is undone.
Your brother stands outside and looks, pointing at the door,
Making his ‘Gor-ga’ noises, his sister there no more.

But then it happens, it’s so close to that time,
You finish school on Friday, you’re back here and you’re mine!
The front door it swings open, J is waiting for a cuddle,
You scoop him up in your arms, a lovely little huddle.

You fly upstairs to get changed, the school day it is done,
The empty room that stood still quickly fills with fun.
You moan you don’t know what to wear, really quite the ‘tween.
Where’s my princess dressed in Dora? She’s turning into a teen!

We argue over silly things, like how you brush your hair,
How long you spend in the shower, and how you just don’t care.
I shout, you moan, we argue and then sometimes bicker,
I do miss the days when you’d behave for a sticker!

I hate it when you’re not here, and our house not quite your home,
I go into the empty room sometimes and feel quite alone.
You really do light up the house, with your cheeky little grin,
The weekend’s here soon, so let the fun begin!

12 thoughts on “The Empty Room

  1. Mary Louise says:

    Kip – when I read the first paragraph I thought it would be just a poem – but then I felt the story come together and it actually bought a tear to my eye. I have a 18 month old daughter and she has 3 teenage step siblings from my partners previous marriage. 2 of whom have nothing to do with her because of my partners EX wife. It’s so sad. However her one teenage sister does visit occasionally when she has a gap in her hectic social life! Their bond is so sweet.
    She spent a full week here just recently and now my toddler keeps swinging by her room not understanding why she’s gone again! Hopefully it won’t be another 2 months before we see her again.
    You must love having your whole family together at weekends.
    A really great poem – I loved it! (Model mummy)

  2. Claire Kendall says:

    A beautifully worded poem that only a Dad could write
    And now you only have to wait one more lonely night
    Tomorrow that door will open and you’ll see that pretty face
    As Georgia sees her brother and to their toys they’ll race
    You should print your thoughtful poem and leave it on her bed
    Tomorrow night when she closes her eyes your words will echo round her head
    You see a daughter needs to know her Father has a tender side
    She sees it in your eyes when you greet her, your arms open wide
    You’re the Dad who laughs and jokes, but it’s plain for all to see
    That you love your children so very much no matter where they’ll be

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