FOR A SLEEPLESS CHILD
If your room is ever too dark,
small one, look out through your window
up at the moon, that little bulb
left on for you in the sky’s black wall.
It will still be there come morning,
burning in a bright room of blue.
And if your room, restless one,
is much too still, listen to the clatter
of the freight, rattling past trestles
on the cool night breeze. Then follow
the moon to the side of the tracks,
where the train is a long, slow dream
you can jump on. An open car
is waiting for you — one step up —
you’re on! Now watch the dark towns, the lights
deep in the porches, and lie down
in the soft straw, and sleep till morning,
when the train chugs into station,
noisy with birds and wires overhead.
~ Peter Schmitt
Gladsome Lights 
Beautiful words and an apt picture – thank you for sharing!
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What a beautiful, creative poem!
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I’m with Anne and shoreacre, and probably everyone else who has the chance to see these two inspiring expressions together. Wonderful!
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What a comforting bit of verse. Funny thing, I just came from Handmade by Amalia and she had a little poem about a little one longing to be home in his own bed. You both share a similar theme today.
Wishing you a beautiful day, Gretchen.
Brenda xox
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What a precious poem to share with little ones.
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That’s sweet! I have to say that one of the wonderful things (to me) about summer is open windows at night, and the sound of cars on a nearby road in the quiet. Don’t know why I like it.
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This is a lovely poem, suitable for not only sleepless children, but sleepless adults, too.
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I agree, Lorrie! I’d like to memorize it for my own use.
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I loved this so much when I read it when you posted it, then forgot to come back on my laptop and comment. It would be a wonderful bedtime story book. I can envision the pictures illustrating it. We hear faint noise from a freight train around midnight and it’s a lovely sound.
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