Last Night

“Sleeping Child” by Archibald A. McGlashan

the child is me
returned to his morning
restored to his wonder
regained of his innocence

second chance
a rebirth unexplained
reimagined from
one dying dream

the child is me
become tabula rasa
receptive to imprint
of brand new ideas

treat him kindly
each person he loves
knows or meets a de facto
new teacher new mentor

to learn from their
patent unwitting example
from even their casual
passing connection

the child is me
soft and eager for life
fresh as spring in relief
of a long painful winter

what shape will
accrue to this new
iteration of character
carried to manhood

what better a
man will be manifest or
was the dream but a prayer
to endure one last night

the child is me
soul asleep in his peace
of departing as clean
as when he arrived