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C.E. Skilling

Slumber Time

When sweet slumber visits
the child escapes
running freely over the hills so green
braces are left behind
for a moment or two
not needed here
as he runs and plays

With dawn comes the light
and the boy can run no more
as the old man feels the pain
for that brief span of time
that he has learned to endure
even relish
at times

As the evening shades of night
are pulled tightly 'round the world
he'll smile
knowing the boy will soon be free
as he sweeps reality from his mind
loosening the lad upon the land
again, for a time

Thus he performs on the two stages
day and night
each with it's own script and time
one of an old man waiting on the inevitable
the other
a child giggling in the wind
playing pirates, in the fertile fields of slumber time