To My Daughter - Who Has Decided Not to Sleep

An Ode to Lucy (who will not sleep):

Miss Lucy - 

with the cute fountain spout hair, sweet blue/green eyes and tiny hands

who is constantly wa-hooing my ipod;

I love you dearly, I do.

But why the sudden nix on sweet slumber?

Why the alligator tears, the chunking of your beloved animals over the crib rails and the high-pitched voice that could crack paint off the walls?

Perhaps your bed is too soft? Too hard? Too lonely?

I've yet to discover the source for your nixing of slumber.

Your lovely whine is engraved into the deepest etches of my gray matter.

And your ability to awaken at the ass-crack of dawn makes my sleepy eyes water.

What happened to the little one who would simply curl up at 8pm and awaken at 8am?

She's gone and so deeply missed!

I promise to await patiently

for sweet slumber to once again graces your adorable self,

But if this current scene remains,

don't be surprised if momma falls asleep

standing up in line at the grocery store

because the stacks of gum next to the register make for a superb pillow.