The empty House

The For Sale sign hung expectantly for weeks,

til the joyful hurrying agent slapped ‘Sold’ on

and had ages of paperwork work through while

a loving couple who lived there were truly gone.

—-

It was their cosy home and garden, built in peace

around their chattering children now moved on,

loving hands that cleaned and weeded, partied

and carefully fashioned a flower bestrewed oasis.

—-

Now their spirits have left and its place will 

know them more. Caring neighbours teared up,

and far off family felt the pain of new loss; 

as their growing up place will become another’s – 

—–

and so our lifecycle goes around over the lands 

for rich and poor alike. But grace reveals that we

feel the bitter change, are sorry for it and grieve

the loss of friends who shared in our community.