Bedtime for Madeline

As you lay in your crib
Holding my hand
I think of your future
And the things I have planned.
Of skinned knees and bicycles
And trips to the zoo,
Of lollipops and fevers
And kindergarten too.
I laugh at the smile
that lights up my life,
And thank God for your mommy
Who I call my wife.

As the lullabies play
And the seahorse goes 'round,
You inspire my dreams
With each babbled sound.
I dream you're a teen
Dressing for prom,
I dream you're a woman
Just like your mom.
I imagine you glow
On your wedding day.
I imagine I'm the daddy
Who gives you away.

As you toss and you turn
Then finally lay still
And your eyes start to shut
As they most certainly will.
I tell you a story
Of how the sun goes down
And the moon rises up
While the world spins around.
And you clutch your baby
And you hold her tight,
And help her fall asleep
For a long, dark night.

As you let go of my hand
I don't hear a peep,
I count to sixty once
Just to make sure you're asleep.
For now you're my baby
And I hope it goes slow,
I find so much joy
In watching you grow.
I close the door behind me,
Precious Madeline Pearl
And I think to myself
What a beautiful girl.