This Father Loves the Night-time

rkarkowski / PixabayThis Father Loves the Night

This Father Loves the Night-time

This father loves the night-time,
when the sun is out of sight;
when stars are waking silently
to watch the earth all night.

He stalks the house alert and still,
ensuring all is well.
If light or noise does not belong
this father’s sure to tell.

He feeds the cats who purr with joy,
he rubs their furry chins;
He feeds the dogs and tells each one
to guard the folks within.

This father is his most content when
all lie down to bed,
When doors are locked and beds are warm
and children’s prayers are said.

That’s when a holy silence falls
beneath the starry host,
and father wants to settle in
with those he loves the most.

But father has a kingdom
granted him by God above
a precious royal family
he keeps with fearsome love.

When he at last has knelt to pray
and lifted each to God,
He drifts asleep a happy man,
who holy places trod.

But he has shown devotion
to the maker of it all,
so sleeps in peaceful confidence
of angels in the hall.

This father loves the night time
though the sun is rising fast
but when his loves wake joyfully
he’ll thank God night has passed.

Edwin Leap 2018