I was in high school when I discovered this poem and fell in love with it, both as a daughter and as a woman who always wanted children. I sought it out again when that time came, and reading it now, with children who are 32 and 30, fills my heart all over. We were never helicopter parents over every homework assignment, and today those adult children are living successful and independent lives. Empty-nesting is always a bittersweet transition, but once it's done, it's beautiful in many ways. Thank you for sharing this poem, Susan.
On Mother's Day, I will share this with my two adult daughters, amazing mothers who each also have two children, ranging in age from 10 - 20. As parents, they--and their partners--embody the essence of this beautiful poem. I feel blessed to have lived long enough to watch my grandchildren grow, thrive, and embark on totally different paths reflecting their unique gifts and personalities.
I remember reading this as a teenager and feeling its truth and now it resonates as a parent with adult children. I love the line about children being "life's longing for itself." There is something so freeing about truly seeing them as unique expressions of life that need our love and acceptance and maybe not much more. Thanks for reawakening and my admiration for Kahil Gibran.
Thank you Susan. Yes, I love this poem too. Our daughters are young adults now; still living with us. I have never sensed that our children belongs to us (they are not property). As a parent, I feel it’s our duty to guide them, support them and aid them to the best of our abilities. “Lotsa” = the Swedish word for guiding. A “lots” is also a boat guiding / helping another boat. 🤗 We try.
This poem is so bittersweet and very relevant to my life stage right now. Both my boys are now away at Uni and lots of adjustments are going on - both for me and for them.
Susan, thank you for sharing this beautiful poem with me. We're empty nesters and have been for a while as our boys left home young. In Australia now living in the cities where the majority of the population lives, it's increasing difficult for our children to live independently and so kids are staying at home a lot longer, often to their late 20s. Plus, we have the increased incidence of anxiety and such across the younger generation meaning the family dynamic has changed. It's an interesting time for us all as co-dependency has increased and delay in learning certain important life skills impacting us as parents and our children.
I'm fascinated to watch how this flows down to our grandchildren's generation.
I recited this poem at my high school graduation in 1979! Here is my favorite rendition ever - Sweet Honey in the Rock singing “On Children” - enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYAkcL36aCE
I am not a parent, and I had a horrid childhood, but I have always loved this poem, although this is the first time I've ever seen a third stanza to it. The poem was set to music around thirty years ago by Isaye Barnwell for her women's vocal group, Sweet Honey in the Rock. Here's a link to one of the several recordings of the ensemble singing it:
I love Kahlil Gibran’s poem so much. We used “On Marriage” at our wedding. I read it at my daughter’s wedding . I love the line “Their souls live in the house of tomorrow.” I wish you well Susan as you transition to the next stage of parenting. But something I wish I would have known - sometimes you have multiple empty nest experiences. My son graduated during the Great Recession so he came home for 2 years and did internships. After he left, my daughter came back home for a while. So I probably had 4 Empty Nest on again/ off again experiences. It would have been easier,I think ,if I hadn’t expected it to be a once and done thing. Each time they left , I grieved, but I am so thankful for the wonderful and unique people they are now.
This poem has helped me to see my mother as a human being and not as the loving one I hoped she would be. I had a very difficult relation with both my parents. A few years ago my mother shared that she realized she had blamed and ashamed me for everything she couldn't handle. We never found the words that crossed the gap between us.
I am grateful though, because it gave me the choice to walk a similar path or to liberate myself from all the trauma's my body and mind contained.
And the last few days I wonder if it would be possible for a human being to be free from trauma and pain, so when a pain is experienced (because life comes with pain, it's how we grow into an awareness of life and all it encompasses) it can be healed in the moment itself and one doesn't have to suffer anymore. I wonder ...
I am familiar with this poem, because I love Kahlil GIbran's poems/writings. This is written so beautifully, and I do believe that my parents did raise me in the way that Gibran expresses in this poem. I am grateful to have been raised with this type of thinking. Thanks for sharing this poem with all of us today.
I was in high school when I discovered this poem and fell in love with it, both as a daughter and as a woman who always wanted children. I sought it out again when that time came, and reading it now, with children who are 32 and 30, fills my heart all over. We were never helicopter parents over every homework assignment, and today those adult children are living successful and independent lives. Empty-nesting is always a bittersweet transition, but once it's done, it's beautiful in many ways. Thank you for sharing this poem, Susan.
I love this!
On Mother's Day, I will share this with my two adult daughters, amazing mothers who each also have two children, ranging in age from 10 - 20. As parents, they--and their partners--embody the essence of this beautiful poem. I feel blessed to have lived long enough to watch my grandchildren grow, thrive, and embark on totally different paths reflecting their unique gifts and personalities.
I have three grown daughters and this beautiful poem was my mantra throughout their lives. ❤️
I remember reading this as a teenager and feeling its truth and now it resonates as a parent with adult children. I love the line about children being "life's longing for itself." There is something so freeing about truly seeing them as unique expressions of life that need our love and acceptance and maybe not much more. Thanks for reawakening and my admiration for Kahil Gibran.
Thank you Susan. Yes, I love this poem too. Our daughters are young adults now; still living with us. I have never sensed that our children belongs to us (they are not property). As a parent, I feel it’s our duty to guide them, support them and aid them to the best of our abilities. “Lotsa” = the Swedish word for guiding. A “lots” is also a boat guiding / helping another boat. 🤗 We try.
Love it. Thank you Susan
This poem is so bittersweet and very relevant to my life stage right now. Both my boys are now away at Uni and lots of adjustments are going on - both for me and for them.
My mother gave me a note with this poem included when I graduated from high school 60 years ago. I have always loved it.
Susan, thank you for sharing this beautiful poem with me. We're empty nesters and have been for a while as our boys left home young. In Australia now living in the cities where the majority of the population lives, it's increasing difficult for our children to live independently and so kids are staying at home a lot longer, often to their late 20s. Plus, we have the increased incidence of anxiety and such across the younger generation meaning the family dynamic has changed. It's an interesting time for us all as co-dependency has increased and delay in learning certain important life skills impacting us as parents and our children.
I'm fascinated to watch how this flows down to our grandchildren's generation.
Thank you again. It's left me with many thoughts.
I recited this poem at my high school graduation in 1979! Here is my favorite rendition ever - Sweet Honey in the Rock singing “On Children” - enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYAkcL36aCE
Thank you for sharing that!
I am not a parent, and I had a horrid childhood, but I have always loved this poem, although this is the first time I've ever seen a third stanza to it. The poem was set to music around thirty years ago by Isaye Barnwell for her women's vocal group, Sweet Honey in the Rock. Here's a link to one of the several recordings of the ensemble singing it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCVvoL_F5gAn The poem and the song remind me of my beloved grandmother, who was and is my north star, and who loved me for who I am.
I love Kahlil Gibran’s poem so much. We used “On Marriage” at our wedding. I read it at my daughter’s wedding . I love the line “Their souls live in the house of tomorrow.” I wish you well Susan as you transition to the next stage of parenting. But something I wish I would have known - sometimes you have multiple empty nest experiences. My son graduated during the Great Recession so he came home for 2 years and did internships. After he left, my daughter came back home for a while. So I probably had 4 Empty Nest on again/ off again experiences. It would have been easier,I think ,if I hadn’t expected it to be a once and done thing. Each time they left , I grieved, but I am so thankful for the wonderful and unique people they are now.
This poem has helped me to see my mother as a human being and not as the loving one I hoped she would be. I had a very difficult relation with both my parents. A few years ago my mother shared that she realized she had blamed and ashamed me for everything she couldn't handle. We never found the words that crossed the gap between us.
I am grateful though, because it gave me the choice to walk a similar path or to liberate myself from all the trauma's my body and mind contained.
And the last few days I wonder if it would be possible for a human being to be free from trauma and pain, so when a pain is experienced (because life comes with pain, it's how we grow into an awareness of life and all it encompasses) it can be healed in the moment itself and one doesn't have to suffer anymore. I wonder ...
I am familiar with this poem, because I love Kahlil GIbran's poems/writings. This is written so beautifully, and I do believe that my parents did raise me in the way that Gibran expresses in this poem. I am grateful to have been raised with this type of thinking. Thanks for sharing this poem with all of us today.
"You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth."
These words stopped my breathing...