No Time to Play

My precious boy with the golden hairCame up one day beside my chairAnd fell upon his bended kneeAnd said, "Oh, Mommy, please play with me!"

I said, "Not now, go on and play;I've got so much to do today."He smiled through tears in eyes so blueWhen I said, "We'll play when I get through."

But the chores lasted all through the dayAnd I never did find time to play.When supper was over and dishes done,I was much too tired for my little son.

I tucked him in and kissed his cheekAnd watched my angel fall asleep.

As I tossed and turned upon my bed,Those words kept ringing in my head,"Not now, son, go on and play,I've got so much to do today."

I fell asleep and in a minute's span,My little boy is a full-grown man.No toys are there to clutter the floor;No dirty fingerprints on the door;

No snacks to fix; no tears to dry;The rooms just echo my lonely sigh.And now I've got the time to play;But my precious boy is gone away.

I awoke myself with a pitiful screamAnd realized it was just a dreamFor across the room in his little bed,Lay my curly-haired boy, the sleepy-head.

My work will wait &ls;till another dayFor now I must find some time to play.

- Dianna (Mrs. Joe) Neal