A Poem Written While A Grandchild Sleeps Poem by Shalom Freedman

A POEM WRITTEN WHILE A GRANDCHILD SLEEPS

A poem written while a grandchild sleeps
Knows it does not have that much time
Knows it is interrupted
Checking whether or not the eyes are still closed
And the baby still at rest-
Knows it cannot capture the angelic innocence
Of the child's peaceful face-
Knows it will never have words of beauty
Comparable to the calm and happiness
Transmitted to an old man
Who all day in pain
Recovers in these moments
His love of life.