Lullaby

She sings me a lullaby

in words

no longer to be sung

Alone I’d lain

for a thousand hours

and slumber had not come.

I’d closed my eyes tight,

counted sheep,

eventually called out

Muuuuuuum!

Her tireless palm

So soft, so repetitive

strokes the side of my face and hair

A touch,

assuring, comforting

from which I’ll never wear

Perched on my bed

she sings this song

plants a kiss on my forehead

A lullaby

never to be sung again

Til I succumb to the land of zeds