I Laid Me Down {draft 3}

to sleep and did not know the wolf to fear.

I lay me down, and sleep comes no more, for

The light that glares within the wolf’s eye is

Too near and never will sleep.

I lay me down and sleep, for nearer still

The shepherd sees me this night and he sees

The wolf, who never will understand nor

Can ever overwhelm this other light

And will come not a step closer.

It was in vain to wake, rise early and

In vain to stay the wolf with darting, watching eyes,

In vain to eat my daily bread in snatches and fear.

I have laid me down

because He gave me, beloved, sleep.

{inspired by Psalm 4:8; 23; 91:5-6; 121:4; 127:2; John 1:5; 10:1-18; and personal experience}

Very rough draft--suggestions wanted badly

I Laid Me Down

I laid me down to sleep,

Not knowing that the wolf walked near.

I laid me down and sleep

Came no more. Hellfire in the wolf’s

eye is too bright and sleeps

not and forbids me sleep.

I laid me down and slept—

One Shepherd sees through night and

He sees the wolf who does not

And will not understand this light and will not—

Cannot draw one step closer.

It was in vain for me to wake, to

Rise early and run, empty to try staying

The wolf with darting wakeful eye,

To eat my bread in snatching fear.

I lay me down

Because He gave

His beloved sleep.

Paraphrase of Psalm 136: A Prayer of a Twenty-first Century Woman

Thank You, Yahweh, for being good,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
Thank You, God above all other gods,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
Thank You, my Lord above all other lords,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
To You who alone does great, wondrous things,
 because Your steadfast love endures forever.
To You who by infinite brilliance made the heavens,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
To You who spread out the earth above the waters,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
To You who made all the great, beautiful lights
(because Your steadfast love endures forever)--
the sun to rule over the day
(because Your steadfast love endures forever)
and the moon and stars to rule over the night
(because Your steadfast love endures forever).

To You who intruded on my despair,
because Your steadfast love endures forever,
and brought me out of the dark wolves' mouths,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
With a strong hand and outstretched arm,
You lifted a broken reed and nourished a dying candle-wick,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
To You who walked these sorrowful ways before me,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
To You who holds and watches over the life of my mother, a wounded sparrow,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
To You who sees my tears and feels my pain as if it were Your own,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
It is You who remembers me in my low estate,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
It is You who stays with one word the wolves lying in wait for me,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.

It is You who provides for my every need and hunger that I should not want,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
I thank You, Yahweh, the only God of heaven...
because Your steadfast love endures forever.