five a.m.

It's five a.m. and
We wake to the beeping of the alarm clock.
Our lights go on
Perhaps the only ones shining on the block.

It's five a.m. and
The doctor in white gathers his things saying,
"Have a good day!
I'm off to the hospital to treat the ailing."

It's five a.m. and
The teacher packs her bag for the day's lesson
In a few hours
She'll be home to grade, change diapers, get laundry done.

It's five a.m. and
The baby smiles and hopes her parents will play.
"Let's get you changed
And fed, then off to work we must go," they say.

It's ten p.m. and
We look back on the day gone by so quickly.
We're together
Now just as at five a.m. and gratefully
We consider
The day's blessings, while searching for sleep before
The best hour comes round again
Five a.m.