She never closed her eyes in sleep till we were all in bed, and on party nights, till we came home she often sat and read.
We little thought about it then, for we were young they say, just how much mother worried while we children were away.
We only knew she never slept when we were out at night and that she waited just to know we’d all come home alright.
Sometimes when we stayed out till one or two or three, it seemed to us that mother heard the turning of key, for always when we stepped inside she’d call and we’d reply.
But we were all too young back then to understand the reason why, until the last one had returned she’d always keep a light, for mother couldn’t sleep until she’d kissed us all good night.
She had to know that we were safe before she went to rest, for she seemed to fear the world might harm the ones she loved the best.
And once she said, “When you are grown to women and men perhaps I’ll sleep a whole night through, I may be different then.”
And so it came that night and day we knew a mother’s care, that always when we got back home we’d find her waiting there.
Then came that night when we called together ‘round her bed, “The children are all with you now”, the kindly doctor said.
And in her eyes there gleamed again that old time tender light that told that she’d been waiting just to know that we were all all right.
She smiled that old familiar smile and prayed to god to keep her children safe from harm throughout the years and then she went to sleep.