What Parents When Old, Want From Their Children …

When you were small, a helpless kid,

Just imagine what parents did,

From feeding to keeping you clean –

A routine that had always been!

And now when parents are quite aged,

They feel like birds both that are caged;

Just give them half the love they gave;

Don’t lose your temper / misbehave!

When you were small and could not bathe,

Mom bathed you with towel to swathe,

And wiped you dry and combed your hair,

All your mischief, she had to bear!

When parents are now pretty old,

Or have a fever, catch a cold,

Should not the children care for them,

And treat them for each new problem?

When you were just a little child,

And parents scolded you so mild,

To show you what was wrong and right,

And chalk a future that was bright!

And now when parents have gone weak,

To walk, your assistance, they seek,

Oblige them with a heart all glad:

Old age is less happy, much sad!

When you were craving for good food,

Your mother cooked it as she should,

And heaved a sigh of great relief,

When you’d slept, in disbelief!

And now, when parents ask something,

Be kind and courteously do bring,

They cannot buy whatev’r they feel;

They cannot run or walk or kneel!

When you’d joined school for the first time,

And could not say even a rhyme,

Your mom had taught you how to write,

And sang a ‘lullaby’ at night!

And now when parents cannot read,

And reached a stage, they cannot feed,

Shouldn’t children help them with these chores,

And see that they don’t get bed-sores?

When you were children very small,

And appeared each, a tiny doll,

Your parents helped to dress you up,

And without spilling, drink from cup!

When parents elderly now need,

A blanket when it’s cold indeed,

Should children not offer the same,

Avoiding saying words of shame?

As children, you knew not to talk,

And parents taught you how to walk,

And told you stories, sang you songs,

Correcting you in all your wrongs!

Now old-aged parents, need your love,

And not the warmth of any stove!

They want their children to converse,

And not a filled wallet or purse!

You turned a man, woman o’er years,

While parents wiped away your tears,

And found a partner good for life,

Ensuring days, devoid of strife.

When parents are now bed-ridden,

And tell you truths that were hidden,

Shouldn’t you mitigate suffering,

Without causing some bickering?

Yes, children, you cannot return

The love what parents’ hearts did burn;

Thank God for giving such great souls,

Who led you to heavenly goals.

The least that aged parents ask,

Is see their children do God’s task,

And live in harmony with all

Relatives, neighbors, till Lord’s call!

So, do your duty to parents

In ripe old age in ways you can,

And get their blessings on kindred,

That stays generations hundred!

Attend on parents in good cheer;

Be kind to them and always near;

Not all offspring get this chance rare,

To have parents old-aged, to care!

Copyright by Dr John Celes 5-12-2008