A poem for tonight

Summons by Robert Francis

Keep me from going to sleep too soon
Or if I go to sleep too soon
Come wake me up. Come any hour
Of night. Come whistling up the road.
Stomp on the porch. Bang on the door.
Make me get out of bed and come
And let you in and light a light.
Tell me the northern lights are on
And make me look. Or tell me clouds
Are doing something to the moon
They never did before, and show me.
See that I see. Talk to me till
I'm half as wide awake as you
And start to dress wondering why
I ever went to bed at all.
Tell me the walking is superb.
Not only tell me but persuade me.
You know I'm not too hard persuaded.


So here I am banging on your door to tell you to go outside right now and check out the eclipse tonight.

3 Responses to “A poem for tonight”

  1. Hypatia Says:

    Thanks so much! I don’t live too far from DC, and with the snow earlier, I thought I’d never be able to see the eclipse. Your post clued me in that the clouds had cleared! (How 21st-century…) The poem is lovely as well.

  2. K Says:

    We tried to go outside. But it was -18 degrees F here, so we decided to peer at it though the windows. It was lovely. Even through glass!

  3. whymommy Says:

    It was beautiful. I so love that poem.
    Thanks!

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