I don’t know why but this morning the first line of a hymn sung back in School Assembly kept running through my mind :

New every morning is the love
Our wakening and uprising prove
Through sleep and darkness safely brought
Restored to life and power and thought.

I never believed my mother-in-law when she used to say  that older people needed less sleep and would get quite irritated with that sliver of light peeping out from under my door waking me up at the unearthly hour of 3 am. Even that was too early for an early morning riser like me and I would toss and turn and wait again to fall asleep till daybreak came. I would often make up this sleep deficit by a siesta in the afternoon.

A restful sleep
is more important and precious 
than a forty carat diamond  ring. 
A short siesta in a darkened room
The fan a-whirring slowly.
Two sleepy babes curled up tight
from time to time
Look out to me with half closed eyes,
Reach out to hold my hand.


Those days have gone
I rest alone 
With memories that come flooding in:
Those early mornings long ago 
You woke me up with words 
That still ring in my ears each day – 
“Mama Wake Up!
It’s morning!” 
Your sweet smile
And twinkly eyes
Would make me want to
Seize the day.