We Don’t Have Children
no, we don’t have children
we don’t pack up the car at the weekend
as if we are preparing for a disaster
we do not go round other peoples houses
watch as they show no respect –
and then run riot
so, no, we don’t have children
and no we do not feel guilty –
for enjoying our peace and quiet
we do not wax lyrical –
about how they are misunderstood
we do not complain to non parent couples
and no, we never would
we do not make out that no one understands
and no, we do not patronise other couples
nor do we call them selfish
and we don’t complain,
because the truth is, we’d love to have children
sometimes it’s a hollow kind of pain
don’t get me wrong,
we will love each and everyone of them
whenever they come along
no, we don’t have children and we don’t need –
statements which preach mumbo jumbo
we wouldn’t let them run wild –
eat what they want and do what they want
no, we don’t have children
James Garratt – September 2005
More poems at
https://theboybehindtheglasses.com/
More about this blog, The Boy Behind the Glasses, here
https://theboybehindtheglasses.com/2020/01/08/the-boy-behind-the-glasses-an-introduction/
More poems from 2005 here
https://theboybehindtheglasses.com/category/poems-and-writing-2005/
We Don’t Have Children – Written September 2005 (Aged 30)
The Boy Behind The Glasses. Poetry and Writing 
Beautifully sad… has a kind of distant feel to it as well. It resonates with me. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s funny because not only is this a long time ago but it aS written from a perspective of my then partner and myself. We were on the cusp of so much, ticking those boxes tend to do at that age. There was so much confidence in our lives.
LikeLiked by 1 person