The Sleepless Child

The shingles are cold beneath her, and steady her clumsy steps.

The earth so still sends winter chills after the old sun sets.

She's told the roof is dangerous for such a little girl,

but the stars seem so much closer from this place above her world.

Behind the shadows of the woods she hears the owl's tune

She knew she should go back inside, but it was much too soon.

"Will I ever get to sleep?" she couldn't help but stop and think,

It had been years since she closed her eyes for more than a blink.

A long day past adds so much weight to those tired little eyes,

but the sparkling silver moon makes her lose all track of time.

The trees swayed back and forth as if they kept a beat,

and the dancing constellations sang the little girl to sleep.

Every night her father came into her room to say,

"Now close your eyes, and don't you peek, daddy's gonna pray."

He'd thank God for the lovely day that they had the chance to see,

And he would pray for a good night's rest, though he knew it wouldn't be.

But this night when he opened up her door and looked inside,

His little girl was not in bed, but it appeared she was outside.

The window had been opened so he creeped up knowing why,

His precious daughter always opened it for lullabies.

There he found her on the roof, she was quiet as a mouse.

Once again he saw the beauty that she saw from the top of the house.

His firm grasp quickly warmed her up as he brought her to her room,

He laid her gently in her bed and looked out at the moon.

"Thank you for that lullaby" he said with a warm smile.

"It seems you're the melody God sent to free my sleepless child."