"We cannot stay asleep"

"We cannot stay asleep"
for Angela
~L. Page

Five more minutes, mama
we cried as you would shake us
sweet darkness and soft slumber
our dreams the stuff of childhood wonder

No desire of morning
could surpass the caress
of our eyes closed and blankets
pulled up around our necks

Five more minutes, mama
but you would yank the curtains
so bursting through the windows
sunlight raced in and through eyes closed

We could not stay asleep
for we would always wake so easily
to the light

Some years later, mama
I was racing in and through a life,
with my eyes closed and dreaming
full of darkness and selfish scheming

And it was not enough for me
to just be shaken by some hand
instead the curtains were yanked back
and sunlight raced in through the black

By the grace of God, mama
He found me when I was lost
I would have sold my soul asunder
for the stuff of sinful wonder

But I could not stay asleep
for I was always waked so easily
by the light

Five more minutes, mama
I know the day is coming when
my own two girls will moan and squirm
until then, I'll let them learn

I will be forever grateful, mama
that you showed us morning Glory
that to be in the Light is sweeter than
any promise of slumberland

You'd be proud of papa
for he's taught my girls the song
like a parable of God's grace
"Let the sun shine in" and wake,

And now we cannot stay asleep.

(c) 2008 Leah Randelle