NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP

I look into that smiling face, and my eyes start to water,
and i listen to the innocent laugh of my little daughter.

I try to be strong, so she doesn't see,
every day the fears that continues to haunt me.

As i watch her outside, playing like any other child,
sometimes..just sometimes i forget and i almost smile.

Then it all comes back, the knowledge that she is going to die,
and it breaks my heart because all i can do is look up at the heavens and ask "why?"

I think of all t he things that she will miss, and it makes me madder than hell,
and i would gladly give my life to have my little girl get well.

But that is not going to happen, and it just tears me apart,
My God, she is only 6 years old, her life has not yet began to start.

Then came the day, the day i have dreaded for so long,
I went to wake my little girl...and she was gone.

Now i lay me down to sleep, I pray to god my soul to keep,
if i should die before i wake, i pray to god my soul to take.

John Hodgson
March 17, 1996